The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has again, reiterated enthusiasm to support initiatives aimed at fostering growth, building innovations and ensuring excellence in Nigeria’s tertiary education.
The actions were founded on the belief that their mandate goes beyond disbursement of funds but also include the need to encourage projects and programmes that will uplift the overall standard of teaching, learning and research across the country’s universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
The Executive Secretary of the Fund, Sonny Echono, gave the renewed assurance, when he recently hosted the management of Baze University, Abuja, led by the school’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Jamila Shu’ara.
Echono used the occasion of the visit to explain the immense benefit accruing from partnerships between government intervention agencies and private universities. He noting that such collaborations are crucial towards achieving a balanced and competitive education system.
He maintained that the Fund is opened to engagement with any forward-looking institution that demonstrates serious commitment to academic excellence and national development.
The Fund’s role, he explained, was not only to provide infrastructure in schools but equally, to strengthen institutional capacity, promote research as well as enhance teaching in a manner that will enable universities to achieve their full potential.
According to the TETFund boss, education is a cornerstone of national development, and institutions such as Baze University are relevant in producing graduates, who can drive progress across different sectors of the economy.
He also highlighted that the Fund was willing to work with the tertiary institution, considering that by aligning its interventions with the university’s priorities, the Fund would be contributing towards creating an environment, where students and staff can thrive. Echono emphasised that sustained investment in education will reposition Nigerian universities to be more competitive at the global level.
He therefore commended the Founder and Chancellor of Baze University, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, who joined the meeting virtually, for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to educational excellence. He acknowledged that leadership at the top plays a decisive role in shaping the direction of any academic institution, and that Senator Baba-Ahmed’s passion for quality education has been a driving force behind the university’s achievements.
According to him, such dedication served as an inspiration for other stakeholders in the education sector. The TETFund boss equally commended the entire management team for its strategic planning, dedication and tireless contributions to the university’s steady growth.
Such collective efforts, he observed, have positioned Baze University as a model of innovation and excellence within the Nigerian education landscape. He added that by fostering an enabling environment for learning and research, the management has demonstrated that great outcomes are possible when vision is matched with commitment and teamwork.
Echono concluded by reaffirming that TETFund stands as a reliable partner in advancing the university’s mission. He equally expressed confidence that with continued collaboration, the institution will not only sustain its present momentum but also achieve greater milestones in the years to come.
He called on all stakeholders, including students, staff, alumni and partners to remain steadfast in their contributions, as education remained the most enduring legacy for future generations.
An analyst, who spoke on the visit, said it has positioned Baze University’s management in a strategic move aimed at strengthening collaboration between the two institutions.
Earlier, the Founder and Chancellor of Baze University, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed PhD, expressed appreciation to the Executive Secretary for his unwavering support. He also highlighted the university’s ongoing commitment to innovation and capacity building.
He said: “Baze University represents diversity, religious harmony, technological advancement and academic integrity.”
The Chancellor noted that the university’s academic calendar remained uninterrupted even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Jamila Shu’ara, expressed gratitude to TETFund for selecting Baze University for hands-on learning programmes, assuring that the institution will continue to uphold the highest standards in teaching, research, and service.
She also praised TETFund’s recognition of the university’s role in development conversations, describing Baze as a “university of tomorrow in today”, and that built on pillars of innovation, diversity and excellence.
“All our processes are technology-driven. From students’ admission to staff management, we deploy smartboards in every classroom and are fully accredited by nine professional bodies”, the VC stated.
According to Professor Shu’ara, Baze, University, which currently enrolls 6,985 students, has produced over 3,400 graduates and employed 920 staff members. The university also maintains a dedicated security team of 150 trained personnel to ensure a safe learning environment.
Key members of the university’s management at the meeting included the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Dr. Atiku Saleh Dambatta; Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Professor Osita Agbu; Registrar, Professor Abiodun Adeniyi; Dean of Postgraduate Studies, Associate Professor Akubue Jideofor and the Chief of Staff to the Chancellor, Major General Garba Abdullahi (rtd), among others.
