Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, the Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND, on Tuesday inaugurated N4.92billion different projects at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, ATBU, in Bauchi State.
Speaking, while inaugurating one of the four projects, ‘Center for Science Technology and Entrepreneurship Development’, Mr Bogoro said TETFUND would support universities to strengthen research documentations.
Mr Bogoro said that TETFUND received N5billion from the National Research Fund, NRF, in 2019 for research, adding that the agency would apply for the fund to be raised to N7.5 billion in 2020.
“Last year, we got N5 billion from NRF for research; in the 2020 budget, we are raising it to N7.5 billion.
“This is to reflect that TETFUND want to concentrate on the content components and it is in that aspect that the quality of all university staff and infrastructures like laboratories, libraries would be enhanced,’’ he said.
The executive secretary also said the projects would enable the lecturers to strengthen research development for growth of the institution and Nigeria universities at large.
Earlier, Prof. Muhammad Abdulazeez, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, said the four section projects were estimated at N4.92 billion.
Mr Abdulazeez explained that the projects include Central Laboratory Block; College of Medicine (Phase II); Clinical Complex, College of Medicine, ATBU Teaching Hospital; and Centre for Science, Technology and Entrepreneurship Development.
He stated that the Central Laboratory Block was awarded at N285.2 million, College of Medicine (Phase ll), N357.1 million and Clinical Complex, College of Medicine, ATBU Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, N327.2 million.
According to him, the Centre for Science, Technology and Entrepreneurship Development cost N3.9 billion.
He commended the Federal Government and TETFUND for providing the fund to execute the projects, adding that without the fund, all Nigerian universities would have collapsed.
NAN
