The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) has commiserated with students of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, over the recent flooding incident, which destroyed their belongings in some hostels.
The Fund, however, pledged to provide immediate assistance and financial support to the institution to address the challenge.
A delegation from TETFund, led by a member of the board from South West zone, Sunday Adepoju, met with the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Kayode Adebowale, to assess the situation first-hand.
The last downpour in Ibadan reportedly affected about 15 rooms, especially on the underground floor of Awo Hostel, with students’ property such as documents, books, foodstuffs and other valuables totally destroyed.
Adepoju stressed that the visit was to identify potential risks and develop a proactive plan to mitigate future flooding incidents.
He said: “We have witnessed the impact of the flooding, but it was not as severe as portrayed in some media reports.
“However, we recognise the urgency of the situation and are prepared to take the necessary actions to prevent similar occurrences in the future.”
He reiterated the commitment of the President Bola Tinubu administration to supporting educational institutions, stressing that the administration prioritises education as a critical area for development.
Adepoju assured the university community that TETFund would mobilise resources to address the immediate needs arising from the flooding.
In his remark, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Peter Olapegba, who represented the vice-chancellor, expressed appreciation to the TETFund team for their visit.
He appealed for special interventions from both the Federal Government and TETFund, specifically in terms of ecological assessments and improved drainage systems.
“We need to enhance our infrastructure to ensure that we can better manage rainfall and avoid such disruptions in the future.
“The university administration remains committed to the welfare of its students and is working closely with TETFund to secure the necessary resources for recovery and to establish safeguards against future flooding events,” he said.
During the assessment visit, the team also inspected other crucial areas within the university, such as the Oba Dam, the UI Zoological Garden culvert, the Department of Forestry, as well as the Ajibode extension bridge.
