The TETFund official train currently moving around the country to inspect and or commission projects recently made a three-day stopover in Benue State of Central Nigeria.
It was such an impactful engagement that the people have not stopped eulogizing President Muhammadu Buhari for uplifting the educational horizon and broadening opportunities in the State, especially the Benue South Senatorial District, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
The TETFund executive train, driven by its Executive Secretary, Arc. Sunny Togo Echono, first pulled to a stop at the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, JOSTUM, (formerly Federal University of Agriculture) Makurdi, where Chairman House of Representatives Committee on TETFund, Hon Aminu Suleiman, led the team to inspect four projects worth N1.20 billion which had been executed during the tenure of Prof Richard Kimbir as Vice-Chancellor.
They were: a Laboratory/Workshop Block for Entrepreneurship Development Centre; Female and Male Hostel Blocks; as well as an Academic Office Building for College of Agronomy.
The new Vice Chancellor, Prof Isaac Itodo, was beside himself with joy as he expressed gratitude to TETFund for the projects.
Still in the State capital, Arc Sunny Echono moved over to the state owned Benue State University (BSU) where Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, a former Governor of the State, represented President Muhammadu Buhari to commission six gigantic Projects to the tune of 02.60 billion naira. These included one Academic Office Building; a Block of Offices at College of Health Sciences; Faculty of Education Complex; as well as the Health and Counceling Development Centre and the Centre for Research and Innovation. The TETFund Executive Secretary informed the audience at BSU that the Federal Government has made huge investments in Education, between 2011 and 2021 especially, adding that in Benue State BSU, JOSTUM, Benue Polytechnic, Colleges of Education in Katsina Ala and Oju, plus the newly established Federal Polytechnic at Wannune, have all been granted various developmental approvals awaiting releases.
In his own remarks, Senator Akume thanked TETFund for having sponsored thousands of Lecturers in Benue tertiary Institutions for postgraduate courses both within and outside Nigeria, as well as to attend internal and foreign Academic conferences.
Prof Joe Iorapuu, BSU Vice Chancellor, made a case for more TETFund intervention to enable the University achieve her expansion Program.
From Makurdi, the TETFund train moved to Otukpo on Friday 12th May, with the Executive Secretary expertly deploying his great wealth of experience as a construction expert, to navigate the unmotorable Makurdi-Otukpo interstate highway. Even at that, the entourage still spent two and half hours on the hundred kilometers stretch.
In Otukpo, the ancient capital of the Idoma people, the TETFund team inspected the ongoing remodeling of an Office Complex belonging to the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo. It is also a TETFund sponsored Project under the 2022 Special Impact Intervention Projects.
Arc Sunny Echono, while in Otukpo, also visited HRM Och’Idoma V, Agabaidu John Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji to deliver a special message from President Muhammadu Buhari.
At the newly reconstructed Och’Idoma Palace, glowing in its new splendor, Arc Sunny Echono presented the paramount ruler of the Idoma people a letter from Mr President appointing him Chancellor of the Federal University of Otuoke, Bayelsa State. President Buhari, in the letter, said the appointment was based on the enviable track records of the royal father, in addition to his leadership qualities, integrity, commitment to the development of education and the sustenance of peace and stability of Nigeria.
Accepting the offer, Agabaidu John Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji expressed his utmost gratitude to Mr President for finding him worthy of the prestigious position. He also thanked Arc Echono for doing so much towards the development of Nigeria, especially Benue State.
The TETFund Executive Secretary had earlier sent a heartfelt congratulatory message to the Och’Idoma in which he recognized that the highly revered position of Chancellor in the University system “personifies the highest ideals of the University, encompassing its vision, purpose, and relevance to society”. In his letter of congratulations, Arc Echono also stressed that as a royal father, the Chancellor would provide the moral compass to productively engage all segments of the University, and also act as the stabilizing antidote in times of inevitable crises. “As the custodian of our culture and traditions, you represent a veritable tool for national integration and cohesion, giving shape and direction to the University”, the Executive Secretary added.
Saturday, May 13th 2023, marked the last phase of the three-day TETFund visit to Benue State. Obagaji town, headquarters of Agatu Local Government Area, hosted the team to the commissioning of the TETFund built National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Obagaji Study Center, as well as the Foundation Laying Ceremony of an Information Communication Technology (ICT) Center and Perimeter Fence.
At Obagaji, Arc Sunny Echono pointed out, in his speech, that education represented the greatest love anyone could bequeath to children. He said the NOUN OBAGAJI STUDY CENTER would provide access to Education for those who otherwise could not attend regular Universities, thanking the Hon Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, for graciously increasing the number of Study Centers in the country.
HRM Och’Idoma expressed joy that in addition to education, employment opportunities would also be extended to the people in the area through the establishment of the Obagaji Study Center of the NOUN, advising the people Agatu to take full advantage of the facilities.
Others who appreciated TETFund included Deputy Governorship candidate of PDP in the 2023 elections, Hon Sir John Ngbede, and Rt Hon Solomon Agidani.
Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUHSO), Prof Innocent Ujah, mni, OON, very ably represented by the Vice Chancellor Academics, Prof Steve Abah, extolled the developmental disposition of the TETFund Executive Secretary, saying that his engagements so far clearly point to the direction of his leadership traits.
In similar vein the JOSTUM Vice Chancellor, Prof Isaac Itodo, described Arc Sunny Echono as a pragmatic Patriot who is out to advance easy and fast learning across Nigeria.
Prof Joel Eriba, Provost of the Federal College of Education, Odugbo, called for support for Arc Echono who, he told the audience, has taken up the education of Nigerian youths as his personal challenge.
The Auditorium and Academic Blocks were commissioned by HRM Agabaidu Och’Idoma and Prof Isaac Itodo respectively, while former Ambassador to Algeria, Amb Mohammed Mabdul, laid the foundation for the ICT Building.
Highlight of the roundup at Obagaji was the decoration of TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc Sunny Togo Echono, in the red and black Idoma cultural attire, by HRM Agabaidu for “his great contributions to Idomaland”.
To the glory of God the TETFund train touched down safely in Abuja the evening of 13th May, 2023.
Benue people are hoping for many of such awesome visits.
