President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned five legacy projects worth N697. 924 million in Federal Polytechnic, Oko in Anambra State.
The minister of state for education, Hon Goodluck Nanah Opiah, who inaugurated them on behalf of the president yesterday, said the projects were part of the intervention efforts of TETFund in the polytechnic.
He listed the projects as a multi-purpose hall, School of Renewable Energy, ICT Building, chemical engineering laboratory and agricultural engineering technology building.
Three buildings were constructed with Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which included the dean’s complex, food technology laboratory and lecture block. They were also commissioned at the event.
Describing education as critical element in the socio-economic development of the nation, Buhari said the commissioning of the projects would in no small measure further enhance teaching and learning and improvement of academic standards.
He said, “You would agree with me that my administration’s support for intervention activities of TETFund, including recent upward review of Education Tax from 2 to 2.5 percent has in no small measure contributed to the success stories the Fund and its beneficiary institutions have continued to record.
“I wish to reiterate that education forms an integral part of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s agenda, hence the Federal Government would continue to provide necessary support towards making our educational institutions globally competitive for economic and technological development of the country.
“It is on record that through the support of the Federal Government, TETFund has performed exceptionally in the provision of physical infrastructure, support for academic staff training and development, book publication, ICT, Research and Development amongst others in public tertiary educational institutions across the country.”
He urged the Polytechnic to take full advantage of the facilities and make good use of them for the educational and vocational development of the students.
President Buhari particularly commended the rector of the Oko Polytechnic, Engr. Dr. Francisca Nwafulugo, and her management staff members and students of the great Polytechnic for the developmental strides at the institution.
Earlier, the rector of the institution, Engr. Dr. Franscisca Nwafulugo expressed gratitude to the president for his unwavering support to the development of the education sector, and particularly in this case, TETFund.
She also commended the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for its support to the polytechnic.