By Alamin Sani Muhammed
“Education at the tertiary level is the most important sector that defines the life, the value, the political culture and the economic power of a nation” – President Muhammadu Buhari.
“About four to five years ago, no Nigerian university was ranked among the top 100 in Africa, but today 28 Nigerian universities are ranked among the best in the continent. The National Universities Commission (NUC) has lauded TETfund for that progression” – Prof. Suleiman Elias Bogoro.
Since his appointment as the Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) two years ago, Professor Suleiman Bogoro has made it a point of fact and duty to turn the story of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions for good through numerous achievements recorded under his leadership. Bogoro has been highly rated having cued into President Mohammed Buhari’s fight against corruption ahead of others and has won accolades as one of the incorruptible public officers in recent times.
TETfund today is celebrating the impact and improved ranking of Nigerian higher institutions internationally because of over four years intense intervention in our universities and other tertiary institutions. In the North-east zone in the last three years, TETfund as part of its intervention at the Modibbo Adamu University of Technology has constructed Business Education and Science education buildings 2009 – 2012 (normal project), construction of 750-seater with LNO integrated studios for the School of Agriculture Technology 2013, TETfund special intervention project, construction of 750-seater lecture theatre with 4 integrated studios for the School of Agriculture Technology 2013, TETfund special project and the construction of Business Education and Science Education Buildings 2009-2012 normal project.
The Federal Polytechnic, Mubi through TETfund got a 250-seating capacity twin lecture theatre normal intervention and lecture room furniture, through the 2010 TETfund intervention as well as offices and lecture classrooms. Adamawa State University, Mubi got TETfund Information and Communication Technology building 2007/2008 (merged) normal intervention, so also is Idris Alooma Polytechnic, Geidam in Yobe State with the construction of electrical engineering department 2012 TETfund normal intervention.
The Federal College of Education, Azare, Bauchi State also got its own fair share through the construction of female hostel, lecture theatre and early childhood centre.
Construction and furnishing of the Senate Building, 4 bedroom duplex senior staff quarters, extension of electricity and installation of power supply, back up with 9 boreholes, construction of Faculty of Arts complex and procurement of 2nr 30-seaters and 3nr 18-seaters buses are part of what University of Maiduguri got from TETfund. Others are procurement and installation of two 800KVA, two 500KVA and two 100 KVA generators for the campus and also procurement and installation of solar lighting system in the school.
The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (ATBU) Bauchi through TETfund got hostels renovated, procurement of office equipment and furniture. There were also construction of workshop and laboratory, construction and furnishing of academic staff office complex, procurement of hospital equipment and vehicles among others. Taraba State University, Federal University Wukari, Taraba State and Gombe State University also maximally benefitted from TETfund projects.
Chairman Governing council Gombe State University Prof. Idris Mohammed lauded the efforts of TETfund for ensuring sustainability in the education sector. Similarly, Senator Binta Mashi, Chairperson Senate Committee on TETfund, congratulated TETfund for winning many awards during the 2015 service delivery awards, recently including the best intervention agency in Nigeria award 2014/2015.
Focus has been the secret of the numerous achievements recorded by Bogoro at TETfund and he has justified the confidence reposed on him by turning around the story of Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions within the shortest time. As we speak, about “9,000 lecturers of tertiary institutions further their education through TETfund,” North-east Development Advocates asserted. The year 2015 witnessed further consolidation on the modest achievements recorded by TETfund and has strive to hit over 10,000 mark of academic staff training both locally and internationally for masters and PhD in diverse fields.
However, encomiums have continued to pour on Bogoro for TETfund’s giant strides in North-east’s higher institutions of learning. These are: “Bauchi State House of Assembly and the entire people of Bauchi are proud of Bogoro’s achievement” – Alh. Kawuwa Damina, Honourable Speaker Bauchi State House of Assembly.
“We thank the able Executive Secretary TETFund, Prof. Bogoro, for providing our college with all facilities required for the successful take off of early childhood care centre” – Dr. Abdullahi Ishaku Provost College of Education, Azare, Bauchi State. He went further to describe the centre as the best in the whole of North-east zone.
“Prof. Bogoro has turned most Nigerian Universities to University of TETfund” -Ezewa Nwawu 2015.
“Prof Bogoro has been highly rated, having cued into President Mohammed Buhari’s fight against corruption ahead of others and he has won accolades as one of the incorruptible public officers in recent times” – National trail newspaper, December edition (2015).
“The National President, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) commends TETfund for making FCE-Azare a model institution through the provision of infrastructure and academic training.” “Without TETfund, it would be difficult to imagine how Nigerian tertiary institutions would be fairing in terms of physical infrastructure, human capacity and research opportunity” – Prof. Saminu Ibrahim V.C ATBU, Bauchi.
Taraba State University is maximally benefiting from TETfund projects considering what we saw on ground in the institution” – Prof. Funmilayo Saporu, NUC accreditation/Team Leader to the institution.
“TETfund is a God-sent saviour of Nigeria university system… Tetfund is simply a phenomenon! My Unimaid wouldn’t have been anywhere without Prof. S. Elias Bogoro’s TETfund” – Prof. Njodi, V.C University of Maiduguri, January 2015.
“TETfund is the major functional agency in Nigeria that is driving tertiary educational institutions towards academic excellence and sustainable development” -VC Federal University, Gashua.
“Prof. Bogoro is a son of the soil who made it happen in Zaar land… a gift of NOUN study centre in Bogoro would forever be appreciated by the generations to come” – indigenes of Bogoro, Tafawa Belewa and Dass local governments, Bauchi State.
With these modest achievements by TETfund so far, it will not be out of place to quote Napoleon Hill, the late American author, “We are happiest when we are striving to achieve success.”
Muhammed, President, Association for Peace and Development wrote from Bauchi