By Awayi Kuje
Keffi – Prof. Mohammed Mainoma, the Vice-Chancellor, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, said on Friday that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) had approved eight projects worth N1.3 billion in the institution.
Mainoma made this known in Keffi when the state House of Assembly Committee on Education, Science and Technology paid an oversight visit to the institution.
The vice-chancellor, who was represented by the Registrar of the Institution, Alhaji Bala Ahmed, said that the eight projects TETFUND approved included the construction of classrooms and office complexes, among others.
He lauded the state government and TETFUND for the infrastructural development in the institution.
He said that the special intervention from TETFUND had changed positively not only the physical structure of the university but also the academic activities of the institution.
“We appreciate you for the visit and for your continued support in ensuring that the standard of education in this institution is improved.
“This institution was established 16 years ago and had graduated 13 sets of students. The institution has eight faculties and running over 60 academic programmes.
“I want to assure you that the institution will continue to maintain its academic standard in the interest of our students and for the overall development of the education sector.”
Mainoma commended Gov.Tanko Al-Makura for giving adequate attention to the education sector in the state and urged its sustenance.
He appealed to the state government to reconsider its decision on the inclusion of tertiary institutions in the Treasury Single Account (TSA) in the interest of development of the institution.
Earlier, the Chairman, House Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Daniel Oga Ogazi (APC-Kokona East), said that the purpose of the visit was to assess the budget performance of the institution, with a view to addressing any challenge.
“The visit is not to witch hunt the university but to know the progress made so far by the University regarding the implementation of the 2018 budget.
“We will continue to ensure that the assembly collaborates with the Executive and also with the management of this institution in order to uplift the institution to an international or world class standard,” he said.
The committee chairman also assured the management of the university of the assembly’s support towards addressing its challenges.
The lawmaker also used the medium to assure the people of the state of their readiness to enact laws that have direct bearing on the education sector as well as on the lives of the people.