*Says it will make educational institutions globally competitive.
By; BAYO AKAMO Ibadan
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu at the weekend, said President Bola Tinubu is committed to the development of education in the country.
Chief Adelabu made this known in Ibadan, while speaking at the commissioning of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND)-sponsored projects at the University of Ibadan and The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
The minister declared that education forms an integral part of President Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope agenda”, adding, ” hence the Federal Government will continue to provide necessary support towards making our educational institutions globally competitive for economic and technological development of the country.”
” I wish to reiterate that education forms an integral part of President Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope agenda, hence the Federal Government will continue to provide necessary support towards making our educational institutions globally competitive for economic and technological development of the country”, he said.
The minister added, “It is on record that over the years, TETFund, through the support of the Federal Government has performed exceptionally in the provision of physical infrastructure, support for academic staff training and development, book publication, ICT, Research and development, among other interventions in public tertiary educational institutions across the country.
“I am delighted to note that three projects valued at N869,912,075.44 will be handed over to the institution’s management in the Faculties of Business and Communication Studies and Financial Management”.
Lauding the support of the Federal Government towards making Nigerian educational institutions globally competitive, the minister said government’s support will further enhance the economic and technological development of the country.
” President (Bola Ahmed) Tinubu has demonstrated great commitment towards the development of education since the commencement of his administration in May 29, 2023, such as the introduction of the students’ loan initiative to improve access to tertiary education for indigent students, meeting personally with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to discuss the welfare of Nigerian students and recently, approving waiver of the, ‘No Work, No Pay’ order on the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which would pave the way for members of the union to receive part of their withheld salaries”.
According to Chief Adelabu “These are part of conscious efforts being made by this administration to address students’ challenges and create industrial harmony between staff unions and Government”.
The Minister of Power noted ” you will recall that in recognition of the role of TETFund in the development of public tertiary educational institutions in Nigeria, and in a bid to further support and strengthen the intervention activities of the Fund, the President also approved the implementation of the upward review of Education Tax (EDT) to three percent with effect from September 2023. This will, in no small measure, contribute more to the improved funding of the education sector and development of our public tertiary institutions.”
Stressing further that the projects commissioned and handed over to the two institutions would further enhance teaching and learning and improvement in academic standards”, he said.”Very soon there will be an independent power plant for the University of Ibadan and it will be embedded into the existing distribution network, without passing through the National grid .That’s the only way we can energize our institutions,
In their separate remarks the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof Kayode Adebowale and Rector of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Prof Adebiyi Kazeem commended the Federal Government for the good gestures to their institutions
