The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), on Tuesday, inaugurated N2.1 billion intervention projects at the Federal College of Education, Technical, Bichi in Kano State.
The Executive Secretary of the Fund, Mr Sonny Echono, who spoke the event at the permanent site of the institution, said that seven viable projects were executed under the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019 merged Annual Interventions as well 2016 Special High Impact intervention.
According to him, the completed projects comprise lecture theatres, auditoria, lecture halls, offices, provision of equipment and a host of others.
Represented by TETFund’s North-West Zonal Director, Bilkisu Zangon-Daura, Echono said the Federal Government through the Fund made huge investments in providing requisite infrastructure to aid teaching and learning in the country.
“This institution has been a major beneficiary of such huge investments since 2011.
“From 2011 to date, TETFund has allocated over N6.8 billion to the College with over 90 per cent of this fully disbursed.
“This translates to the provision of a fully furnished and equipped college library, academic and administrative buildings all fully furnished, four lecture theatre buildings with a combined capacity of over 2,000 students, among others,” he said.
The TETFund boss further said that teaching aids, computers, equipment, furniture, solar street lighting, books and library materials worth over N1 billion had been provided to the school.
According to Echono, the gesture is a clear demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment towards provision of physical infrastructure in the nation’s tertiary institutions.
“We believe that the facility will significantly impact the training of students by providing a conducive working environment for staff and the students,” he said.
The Provost of the College, Prof. Bashir Fagge thanked the Fund for the interventions and other support to the institution.
He said the permanent site of the College witnessed impressive infrastructure development under various interventions of the Fund.
The provost said the projects provided additional 58 classrooms, 18 theater/conference halls, 125 offices and 172 toilets, adding the intervention positively contributed development of the College.
Fagge further said the College was pursuing the establishment of an International Center for Out-of-School children in view of the growing population in the state.
“The college reached an advanced stage in securing approval for the commencement of National Certificate of Education (NCE) programme in Community Health and Paramedic education,” he said.
Also speaking, Sen. Barau Jibrin (APC – Kano North), lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to the development of education in the country.
He said that TETFund intervention contributed to the success stories the fund and its beneficiary institutions recorded.
Represented by Prof. Muhammad Abdullahi, Jibrin said the projects would enhance teaching and learning among staff and students.
He urged the management of the institution to ensure effective utilisation of the facilities to attract more projects.