By Ovat Abeng
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged administrators of tertiary institutions to work very hard to access the National Economic Empowerment And Development Strategy, NEEDs fund accruable to any project in their institutions.
President Tinubu stated this while commissioning Oby Ezekwesili Female hostel, a federal government project under NEEDS sited at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
Commissioning the hostel and other completed projects in the institution, President Tinubu represented by the Director of Tertiary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Rekiyat Eliasu said it is very important to follow up on any project awarded under NEEDS as according to him, such interventions may not last forever.
While commending the Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK, Professor Charles Esimone for putting in extra effort to ensure that the hostel building started in 2013 is completed and put to use in 2023, ten years after, Eliasu said that wasting such a long time is detrimental to the vision of establishing the intervention.
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She said that UNIZIK has been proactive and serious about improving quality teaching and learning in the institution.
Iliyasu who also represented the President at the University’s 17th Convocation, said “We are aware of the challenges facing higher education in Nigeria, and we are addressing it strategically and holistically.
“Efforts are being made to address the infrastructure and human capital deficiencies through TETfund (Tertiary Education Trust Fund).
“It is the desire of this government that industrial action would be a thing of the past. This government is doing everything possible for a better relationship between the unions and government, which can stop such industrial actions.
“The government is working hard to stop industrial actions in universities across the country.
“University education is capital intensive and government alone cannot take care of it, but all stakeholders must put their hands on deck in this regard. I’m happy with TETfund intervention in the university and I urge the university to take ownership of it and also ensure they serve their purpose.”
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Charles Esimone stated that the university graduated 6,000 first degree students, 3,300 post graduate diploma students, 807 Masters degree students and 600 doctorate degree students.
“Three eminent Nigerians were also awarded honourary doctorate degrees. They include: Abdul-Samad Rabiu, Chief Ikenna Okafor and Okey Anueyiagu.
“The Vice Chancellor added that within the period of his tenure, the institution in world ranking now stands at 1,501 best university in the world and 8th in Nigeria.
Speaking also at the point of commissioning of various projects, Professor Esimone acknowledged all efforts put in by leadership of the various departments to complete the buildings, and thanked the federal government for supporting the institution by siting many projects and completing them in due course, urging the various departments to utilize the edifices well to serve the purpose.
It was gathered that among other projects completed are NNPC International Center, Fire Station, Agric Road, Departments of Building’s Workshop and Laboratory, Environmental Sciences Technology, VC’s Gate Road and the UNIZIK Business School Building.