The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) on Tuesday inaugurated a newly-constructed three-storey College of Medicine Complex Phase I at the Kaduna State University.
The Executive Secretary of the fund, Prof. Sonny Ochono, said during the event at the campus, that the exercise was part of 162 projects being inaugurated in 54 tertiary institutions across the country.
Ochono, represented by the Fund’s Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Babajide Olajide, said that the complex was constructed at the cost of N432 million under the 2014 to 2016 annual intervention projects.
According to him, the gesture is a clear demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to the provision of physical infrastructure in the nation’s tertiary institutions.
“It is our commitment at TETFund to ensure that value is obtained for funds allocated to benefiting institutions to aid teaching, learning and research.
“This, by implication, will make our institutions globally competitive.
“We believe that the facility will significantly impact the training of students by providing a conducive working environment for staff and the students.
The TETFund boss has lauded the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Musa, and his management team for the quality and timely completion of the project.
“The Fund will continue to support you as you judiciously utilise the allocated funds for the project approved for your institution,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor thanked the Fund for funding the project 100 per cent and other strategic support to the university in the form of grant and special allocation.
Musa said the institution was heading toward rapid transformation with a new management in place, saying “we are working on strategies to consolidate the gains of our predecessors to take the school to greater heights”.
According to him, the management is working tirelessly to place the university among top educational institutions of global repute.
Describing the Fund as a “critical stakeholder”, the vice-chancellor expressed optimism of actualising the vision of repositioning the institution for global competitiveness.
“We will continue to partner with TETFund, and stakeholders in our pursuit of excellence and talent that will take the university to greater heights,” he said.
Also, the Provost of the College of Medicine, Prof. Abdullahi Abba, equally commended TETFund for the support, which he said had helped in securing accreditation from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
Abba said that the college absorbed medical students from other institutions due to the availability of critical infrastructure and facilities.
He urged the Fund for continued support that would help in repositioning the university to deliver quality medical training and research.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the complex was provided with office furniture and equipment comprising lecture halls, 38 offices, toilets, lecture room, two board rooms, e-library and conference halls.
