By; ISAAC ODEH, Kaduna
The Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Maj General Ibrahim Yusuf, has said that the institution has enjoyed maximum support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), amounting to over N8.2 billion from 2016 to date.
Yusuf said this while expressing his gratitude during commissioning of TETFUND’s intervention projects at the NDA Headquarters, Afaka on Tuesday in Kaduna.
Our correspondent reports that the projects commissioned were, CBT Hall, the Faculty of Management Building and Military Science Building.
Yusuf noted that about six billion Naira went into infrastructural development at the NDA while N2.2 billion went into other aspects such as capital development, research and publication, library development and ICT, among others.
He added that looking at the development in NDA, it is obvious that the federal government has invested hugely in the manpower development of cadets.
“By implication, the development goes to the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria,” he said.
The commandant disclosed that the NDA currently has nine TETFUND projects which are under construction.
“This projects are from the merged funds from 2019 to 2022, if it is possible for you be back here after some months to commission them, we will be delighted to do so,” he said.
He however, said that among the nine projects, an 800 cadets room hostel accommodation is included, which would be ready for commissioned in about 30 days.
He said others include, furnishing of the hostel, supply of equipment for the faculty of engineering and E-learning application and support for cadets, construction of psychology and supply and chain management department of the newly created faculty.
He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for investing a lot in the academy, and TETFUND for their understanding and support throughout the years.
Earlier, President Muhammadu Buhari, said the support for intervention activities of TETFund has in no small measure contributed to the success stories the Fund and its beneficiary institutions have
continued to record.
Buhari, represented by the Chairman Senate Committee on Defence, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko, said education plays critical role in socio-economic development of nations.
He added therefore, that the commissioning of the projects would in no small measure further enhance teaching and
learning and improvement of academic standards.
He reiterated that education forms an integral part of his administration’s agenda.
“The Federal Government will 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.
“They have also done so well in book publications, ICT, research and development amongst others in public tertiary educational institutions across
the country,” Buhari said.
Earlier, in his remarks, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, said the event marks the kick-off of a major TETFund activity in 2023.
Echono, represented by Arc. Olatunde Olajide, said that in 2023, an estimated 162 exceptional, iconic projects would be commissioned in 28 states of the federation in 54 beneficiary institutions spread across the six geo-political zones of the country.
He further said that the financing of the projects by TETFund were a clear demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to the provision of requisite physical infrastructure in the nation’s public tertiary institutions.
“It is our commitment at TETFund to ensure that value is obtained for funds allocated to the benefitting institutions, to aid teaching, learning and research and by implication, and by implication, make them globally competitive,” he said.
The Executive Secretary commended the management of the NDA for successfully executing and completing the three projects amongst other notable ones that had been executed in the past by the Academy with TETFund’s sponsorship.
He noted that with the achievement of the feat, the fund believes it would significantly impact the training of cadets, through teaching, and research.
He commended management of the academy for ensuring quality delivery, and adherence to specifications, in spite of the volatility in the economy.
He enjoined them to ensure proper maintenance of the structures to avoid early dilapidation in view of limited resources to reconstruct new ones, while reassuring them of their continues support.
Our correspondent reports that the three commissioned projects at the NDA, fsll under the categories of the annual and zonal interventions of TETFUN, costing a total of N679 million.
It was also gathered that there are TETFund inaugurated projects at the Air Force Institute of Techology (AFIT), Kaduna State University (KASU), and Kaduna Polytechnic.
