China Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC, has handed over the first phase of Transportation University to the Nigerian Government.
Chairman of CCECC, Jason Zhang, handed over the project in a symbolic manner to the Minister of Transportation, Sen. Sa’id Alkali, in Abuja.
Mr Zhang said as one of the major players in the infrastructure industry, the handing over of the university is a testament to its dedication to its Corporate Social Responsibility and promise to support youth development in Nigeria.
According to him, it’s one of the ways of CCECC of giving back to Nigeria and helping the technical advancement of the country.
He said more than one thousand jobs were created and many Exchange Programmes conducted during the project.
“The University of transportation located in Daura, Katsina State is an investment by the CCECC worth 50 million USD”.
“In the shortest if time, the university itself will become beacon of progress in the development in the country especially in the transportation sector and amount to the modernisation of the nation”. He said
Responding, the Minister of transportation, Senator Sa’id Alkali said the University is unique in form, standard, structure and has satisfied the requirements of National Universities Commission, NUC, which attracted the enactment of its establishment Act No. 34 of 2022.
The Minister commended the CCECC for the marvellous undertakings in support of educational development of Nigerian students and its further initiative to hand-over the University to the Federal Ministry of Transportation for operation by management of the University.
“During my first inspection visit in October, 2023 after assumption of office as Minister of Transportation, the University has only the Vice Chancellor without Principal Officers, Support Staff with many outstanding logistics that are necessarily required to facilitate its take off.
Barely seven months from October, 2023, the Ministry under my stewardship facilitated the release of some funds by CCECC from the capital allocation of Phase I of the project to fund logistics travelling, sourcing for approvals for take off, development of relevant documents for NUC, liaising with Budget Office of the Federation, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, TETFUND, neighboring Universities to secure mentorship, JAMB and the Federal Ministry of Education”.
“As a result of this intervention and personal contacts with relevant Ministries, the University has commenced academic activities for 2023/2024 session with Principal Officers/few Support Staff appointed, approval for take off grant by TETFUND was granted, waiver for recruitment of essential staff was granted and the University was graciously placed on the national budget by His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR to facilitate the realization of his “Renewed Hope Agenda” given the role of transportation as enabler of economic growth,” Mr Alkali explained.
The Acting Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Chris Maiyaki commended the vision of the Federal Government for establishing the pioneer university of transportation.
Represented by the Director, Executive Secretary Office, NUC, John Ahmadu, Mr Maiyaki said the Commission is part and parcel of the establishment of the university.
“Having the opportunity of not just visiting, but assessing the facilities that have been put in place for the establishment and commencement of activities in this university,” Mr Maiyaki noted.
The National Universities Commission added that it will always be available to provide whatever technical guidance the university may need to function effectively.
The Federal University of Transportation, Daura, Katsina State Northwest, Nigeria is the first of its kind in Africa.
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