Education

TETFund hails Poly Ibadan on prompt delivery of N869.91m projects

The management of the Polytechnic Ibadan has been commended for the prompt delivery of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) projects domiciled in the university.

The projects inaugurated are the construction of the Faculty of Business and Communication Studies (2019 Special Intervention); Faculty of Science Building (2017-2018 Merged) Annual Intervention and Faculty of Financial Management Building (2020 Annual Intervention) at a total cost of N869,912,075.44.

The commendation was given by the Executive Secretary, TETFund, Sonny Echono, during the official inauguration of the projects by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, on the school premises recently.

Echono, who was represented on the occasion by the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, TETFund, Babatunde Olajide, noted that the Rector and management of the Polytechnic Ibadan must be commended for promptly and successfully completing the three projects to be inaugurated today.

He said: “With the achievement of this feat, TEFund believes the projects will significantly impact the training of students while providing a conducive working environment for staff and students.

“As a government entity, we enjoin you to ensure proper usage and maintenance of these structures to avoid early dilapidation, knowing that we are challenged by resource constraints and construction rates are very high now.

“You would do well to ensure that early and immediate attention is given to any failing component(s) and facilities in the buildings in tandem with the proverb which says ‘a stitch in time saves nine’. The Fund will continue to support you as you judiciously utilise allocated funds for projects approved for your institution.”

In his remarks, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said in recognition of the role of TETFund in the development of public tertiary educational institutions in Nigeria, and in a bid to further support and strengthen the intervention activities of the Fund, the President also approved the implementation of the upward review of Education Tax (EDT) to 3 percent with effect from September 2023. This, will in no small measure contribute more to the improved funding of the education sector and the development of our public tertiary institutions.

He also informed that:”aside from support for physical infrastructure and provision of equipment at The Polytechnic Ibadan, I am pleased to note that TETFund has also sponsored 108 lecturers from this polytechnic for Ph.D degrees in both foreign and local institutions at a total sum of N495,171,100.08; a total number of 105 lecturers for Masters Degrees in both foreign and local institutions totalling N206,086,956.00; while 312 staff have been sponsored for conference attendance locally and abroad at a total cost of N204,827,849.00.

“I wish to assure you that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains totally committed to providing greater support and the enabling environment to enable the Fund to further improve its performance.”

Rector of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Professor Kazeem Adebiyi, while speaking during the event thanked the Federal Government and TETFund for the support while giving assurance that the new projects and existing ones will be adequately taken care of.

He concluded that the school still counts on the continued support from the Federal Government and TETFund for the institution to continue to give the best in terms of quality education capable of contributing to the growth of the country.

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