The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has flagged off the construction of the Abuja Leadership Centre of Excellence in Public Governance at the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA).

TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, conducted the foundation-laying for the project alongside the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Hakeem Fawehinmi.

Echono lauded the institution for its consistent commitment to academic excellence and innovation in public administration training.

He disclosed that the centre, designed to serve as a hub for leadership development, capacity building, and policy research, aims to equip current and future public servants with the skills needed to drive good governance in Nigeria.

He explained that the centre would provide world-class training facilities, lecture halls, research laboratories, and digital resources to foster an environment of learning and practical engagement.

“This initiative aligns with TETFund’s mandate to enhance the quality of education and professional development in tertiary institutions, ensuring that our graduates are not only academically competent but also socially responsible leaders,” Echono stated.

He noted that leadership remains one of the most critical elements of national development, reminding that nations rise or fall based on the quality of leadership they produce.

According to him, the centre is envisioned as more than just a conference hall or auditorium, but a world-class leadership facility where visiting heads of state and their delegations would feel at home, comparable to similar facilities anywhere in the world.

He said the university, by its name and mandate, must continue to project national unity, integration, and excellence, particularly in leadership and governance.

Fawehinmi, on his part, noted that the groundbreaking ceremony marked a new chapter in the university’s partnership with TETFund.

He said the centre would serve as a centre of excellence for public governance and leadership, positioned as a national hub for training future leaders, who would play key roles in policy formulation and national development.

He expressed confidence that TETFund would ensure the timely completion and proper furnishing of the centre, so it could be effectively utilised to achieve its objectives.

Fawehinmi assured that the university would put the facility to its best use and described the project as a historic intervention that would be remembered for years to come.