Constant interventions of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) has saved tertiary institutions from becoming glorified secondary schools, Rector Federal Polytechnic, Offa Dr. Kamoru O. Kadiri has said.
Dr. Kadiri, an engineer, revealed that the polytechnic under his watch had received no less than four billion Naira from TETfund for massive infrastructural development of the institution.
The rector told our correspondent on the sidelines of TETfund’s town hall meetings in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.
He said: “I must give it to them, without TETfund, tertiary institutions would have become glorified secondary schools in the country.
“The fund under its current leadership has invested roughly N4 billion in my institution for infrastructure development only. I am not talking about other interventions. When you talk about infrastructure development I mean special interventions, high impact interventions and normal interventions. Even this year alone, TETfund allocates N850 million for infrastructural development.
“However, I want TETfund to focus attention on building halls of residence for students. The student population of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa is not less than 18,000. We need hostel accommodation of not less than 3,000 capacity.
“We also need the intervention of TETfund in the provision of energy and provision of utility vehicles for the convenience of principal officers and administrative duties.”
On maintenance of TETfund buildings, the polytechnic chief added that “this year in particular, TETfund directed all tertiary institutions not to embark on construction of new structures. Instead, it earmarked N250 million each for the maintenance of buildings handed over to them.
“Thirty percent of the fund for the purchase of laboratories equipment and the rest for the maintenance of the aging structures on campuses.
The Nation