The Federal Government on Saturday inaugurated two hostels, worth N550 million, at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State
The construction of the male and female hostels were sponsored by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund), 2020 Special Intervention.
Inaugurating the hostels, Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah, member, Senate Committee on Education and TETFund, said the National Assembly would continue to work with the executive to improve the nation’s educational institutions.
Ubah, who is representing Anambra South Senatorial District, said the National Assembly would also provide necessary support to TETFund through enactment of legislations that would advance tertiary education in Nigeria.
“Aside support for physical infrastructure and provision of equipment at the institution, TETFund has sponsored 101 lecturers from the Polytechnic for their Ph.D programmes in both foreign and local institutions at a cost of N487,527,656.10.
“TETFund also sponsored 60 lecturers for Masters Degrees in both foreign and local institutions at a cost of N293,102,460.00, while 90 staff have been sponsored for conferences locally and abroad at a total cost of N111,471,159.50,” he said.
Ubah urged the management of the polytechnic to judiciously utilise the facility for the educational and vocational development of the students.
Also speaking, Mr Sonny Echono, Executive Secretary, TETFund, said the project would address security concerns in the Polytechnic as well as provide requisite infrastructure for the students’ wellbeing.
Echono, represented by Director, Monitoring and Evaluation Department, Mr Babatunde Olajide, said the Fund was committed to ensuring the sustenance of funding to all public beneficiary institutions.
“In line with the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, TETFund will ensure that our institutions attain high global ranking in delivery of academic content,” he said.
Earlier, Dr Francisca Nwafulugo, Rector, OkoPoly, said the inauguration of the hostels was a step in the institution’s quest to accommodate more students within the polytechnic and enhance their security and well-being.
“These hostels, made up of 26 rooms each, have the capacity to accommodate 208 students and they are equipped with modern facilities.
“The accommodation is decent and conducive to help our students achieve peak performance academically.
“We also have the School of Environmental Design and Technology Building which is a capital funded project, to also be inaugurated,” she added.
Nwafulugo appreciated TETFund for making it possible for increased number of students to have a safe and decent accommodation within the Polytechnic.
She promised that the facility would be maintained to serve generations to come. (NAN)