The Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust fund (TETFund ) Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro has on Tuesday commissioned four projects worth N4.9 billion at Gubi Campus of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
The projects include, central laboratory block, second phase of the University’s college of medicine, centre for science, technology and entrepreneurship development and clinical complex, college of medicine of the ATBU.
Commissioning the projects, the TETFund Secretary said funding critical infrastructure across the nation’s tertiary education sector was necessary to revitalize its lost glory.
Professor Bogoro also challenged professors of the university to focus on research and development, which he argues will help reinvigorate the country’s knowledge economy.
Bogoro said the gap between academic sector and the real world could be attributed to the inability of professors to carry out pragmatic research that will address Nigeria’s evolving challenges.
He said Tetfund has budgeted N7.5 billion naira in its 2020 appropriation to funds research and development in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
He urged academics in Nigeria to emulate their counterparts in other countries who liaise with the private sector in addressing peculiar socioeconomic problems.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Muhammad Ahmad Abdulazeez who described the Tetfund boss as Worthy ambassador of the institution, said without the intervention of Tetfund, tertiary education in Nigeria would have deteriorated beyond its current status.
Professor Abdulazeez assured Bogoro that ATBU will remain committed in the aspect of research and development to enable it maximize from the impact of Tetfund projects.
Professor Bogoro also visited his hometown amidst cheers and fanfare.