Over N7.38Billion Allocated to Akwa-Ibom COE… Masari ….Commissions N1.39b Admin Bulding, ICT Centre

Over N7.38billion has been allocated to the Akwa Ibom State College of Education, Afaha-Nsit for various intervention by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), with the college reported to have accessed N6.92billion for physical infrastructure development. The above was disclosed by the Chairman, Board of Trustees of TETFund, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari while commissioning two TETFund sponsored projects, namely the Administrative Building of the College and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre valued at N1.39billion as part of the 8th – 13th Combined Convocation ceremonies of the College. Masari who lauded the management of the College for its sagacity and commitment in ensuring the projects were completed and ready for commissioning in the face of the economic challenges that have bedevilled smooth and successful project completion in the country, pointed out that “Each time we see our beneficiaries complete their projects to the required standard, we are always delighted to identify with them as this showcases and justifies the huge injection of funds allocated as intervention funds by the Federal Government. “No doubt, these projects will go a long way at improving the teaching and learning environment and the acquisition of requisite skills by students. While I salute His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, and the State Executive Council for the continuous support given to the College in actualising its mandate of training quality teachers for our basic education schools, I equally commend the College Management for a job well done,” he said. Speaking further, the TETFund Board Chairman reiterated that the Fund has resolved as an agency of the Federal Government to keep pace with current advancements and are making significant efforts at ensuring that beneficiary institutions are up to date, through support to acquire relevant tools of work for knowledge creation, learning, research and supporting teacher training, entrepreneurship and skills development. According to him, TETFund will never relent at ensuring support for public tertiary institutions towards achieving world class status as they perform their role in educating and equipping knowledge seekers of all ages. “The total cost of the projects to be commissioned is N1,391,116,511.32. You may wish to know also that from the start of TETFund interventions to this College, the Fund has allocated a total of N7,388,131,247.96, for infrastructure-related projects only. Out of this, a total of N6,925,204,879.46 have been accessed, leaving a balance of N462,926,368.50, most of which are already committed. “While I commend the College for the completion of these projects, I urge you to ensure that these facilities are properly maintained and protected. You will agree with me that funds are not cheap to come by these days in the face of many competing infrastructural needs and as such, it behoves all users and stakeholders to ensure that these facilities are well maintained to prevent early wear and tear. “Our resolve as a Fund is to ensure that our interventions are sustained and improved upon as much as possible to enable our institutions undertake bigger, and more laudable and impactful projects that will make them become globally competitive. We shall continually engage with our beneficiary institutions towards ensuring the initiation and delivery of iconic and impactful intervention projects in subsequent intervention years.” he added. Also speaking, Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny S.T Echono reiterated the resolve of the Fund as an intervention agency the Federal Government towards providing necessary facilities in public tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Echono who was represented by the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation in the Fund, Arc. Babatunde Olajide explained that TETFund in line with the aspiration of the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and decision of the Board of Trustees, will collaborate with Beneficiary Institutions to complete all projects. Acknowledging the pivotal role of TETFund in the development tertiary education in Nigeria, the Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno who was represented by Commissioner of Education, Prof. Ubong Umoh stated that without interventions from TETFund, most public tertiary institutions would have gone comatose because of inadequacies in physical infrastructure and other learning facilities. The Governor who noted that TETFund commissions projects in the State-owned University earlier before the current one in the College of Education, said these interventions show the extent to which the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Boal Tinubu and Arise Agenda of the state government are shaping education to make life better for Nigerians According to him, “from what we see in Akwa Ibom State University, a significant signature of TETFund and what we are seeing here in the College of Education Afaha Nsit, in accessing over N7 billion, this is commendable. It shows the extent to which the Renewed Hope of Mr. President in Education aligns with the emphasis on Education of the Arise Agenda, to make Nigeria hopeful and great again. These buildings will last through generations and provide both administrative and academic support to the institution” Also, speaking, Provost of the College, Prof. Daniel Udo narrated how he assumed duty at the College when TETFund was threatening to withdraw its interventions from institutions which were not accessing them, disclosing that he inherited funds allocated by TETFund for 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 interventions. Prof. Udo expressed appreciation to the Board and Management of TETFund for rescinding the decision following the interface on the matter in Abuja, appealing further to TETFund to help sustain the support to the institution in furtherance of the cordial and mutual working relations it had built overtime with the college. “Like Oliver Twist always ask for more, I humbly request TETFund to construct perimeter fence around this college to protect all our facilities and other installations,” the provost added. The new administrative building that was commissioned consists of three suspended floors accommodating 65 well-furnished offices, four equipped computer labs and a conference hall, aside the ICT Centre Building which is to position the institution for global competitiveness. Members of the Board of Trustees and top Management of TETFund, alongside other dignitaries and state functionaries from Akwa Ibom State graced the occasion of the iconic project commissioning and convocation.

Over N7.38billion has been allocated to the Akwa Ibom State College of Education, Afaha-Nsit for various intervention by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), with the college reported to have accessed N6.92billion for physical infrastructure development. The above was disclosed by the Chairman, Board of Trustees of TETFund, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari while commissioning two TETFund sponsored projects, namely the Administrative Building of the College and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre valued at N1.39billion as part of the 8th – 13th Combined Convocation ceremonies of the College. Masari who lauded the management of the College for its sagacity and commitment in ensuring the projects were completed and ready for commissioning in the face of the economic challenges that have bedevilled smooth and successful project completion in the country, pointed out that “Each time we see our beneficiaries complete their projects to the required standard, we are always delighted to identify with them as this showcases and justifies the huge injection of funds allocated as intervention funds by the Federal Government. “No doubt, these projects will go a long way at improving the teaching and learning environment and the acquisition of requisite skills by students. While I salute His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, and the State Executive Council for the continuous support given to the College in actualising its mandate of training quality teachers for our basic education schools, I equally commend the College Management for a job well done,” he said. Speaking further, the TETFund Board Chairman reiterated that the Fund has resolved as an agency of the Federal Government to keep pace with current advancements and are making significant efforts at ensuring that beneficiary institutions are up to date, through support to acquire relevant tools of work for knowledge creation, learning, research and supporting teacher training, entrepreneurship and skills development. According to him, TETFund will never relent at ensuring support for public tertiary institutions towards achieving world class status as they perform their role in educating and equipping knowledge seekers of all ages. “The total cost of the projects to be commissioned is N1,391,116,511.32. You may wish to know also that from the start of TETFund interventions to this College, the Fund has allocated a total of N7,388,131,247.96, for infrastructure-related projects only. Out of this, a total of N6,925,204,879.46 have been accessed, leaving a balance of N462,926,368.50, most of which are already committed. “While I commend the College for the completion of these projects, I urge you to ensure that these facilities are properly maintained and protected. You will agree with me that funds are not cheap to come by these days in the face of many competing infrastructural needs and as such, it behoves all users and stakeholders to ensure that these facilities are well maintained to prevent early wear and tear. “Our resolve as a Fund is to ensure that our interventions are sustained and improved upon as much as possible to enable our institutions undertake bigger, and more laudable and impactful projects that will make them become globally competitive. We shall continually engage with our beneficiary institutions towards ensuring the initiation and delivery of iconic and impactful intervention projects in subsequent intervention years.” he added. Also speaking, Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny S.T Echono reiterated the resolve of the Fund as an intervention agency the Federal Government towards providing necessary facilities in public tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Echono who was represented by the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation in the Fund, Arc. Babatunde Olajide explained that TETFund in line with the aspiration of the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and decision of the Board of Trustees, will collaborate with Beneficiary Institutions to complete all projects. Acknowledging the pivotal role of TETFund in the development tertiary education in Nigeria, the Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno who was represented by Commissioner of Education, Prof. Ubong Umoh stated that without interventions from TETFund, most public tertiary institutions would have gone comatose because of inadequacies in physical infrastructure and other learning facilities. The Governor who noted that TETFund commissions projects in the State-owned University earlier before the current one in the College of Education, said these interventions show the extent to which the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Boal Tinubu and Arise Agenda of the state government are shaping education to make life better for Nigerians According to him, “from what we see in Akwa Ibom State University, a significant signature of TETFund and what we are seeing here in the College of Education Afaha Nsit, in accessing over N7 billion, this is commendable. It shows the extent to which the Renewed Hope of Mr. President in Education aligns with the emphasis on Education of the Arise Agenda, to make Nigeria hopeful and great again. These buildings will last through generations and provide both administrative and academic support to the institution” Also, speaking, Provost of the College, Prof. Daniel Udo narrated how he assumed duty at the College when TETFund was threatening to withdraw its interventions from institutions which were not accessing them, disclosing that he inherited funds allocated by TETFund for 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 interventions. Prof. Udo expressed appreciation to the Board and Management of TETFund for rescinding the decision following the interface on the matter in Abuja, appealing further to TETFund to help sustain the support to the institution in furtherance of the cordial and mutual working relations it had built overtime with the college. “Like Oliver Twist always ask for more, I humbly request TETFund to construct perimeter fence around this college to protect all our facilities and other installations,” the provost added. The new administrative building that was commissioned consists of three suspended floors accommodating 65 well-furnished offices, four equipped computer labs and a conference hall, aside the ICT Centre Building which is to position the institution for global competitiveness. Members of the Board of Trustees and top Management of TETFund, alongside other dignitaries and state functionaries from Akwa Ibom State graced the occasion of the iconic project commissioning and convocation.