The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has reinforced its resolve to transform Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape with the commissioning of five major infrastructure projects worth over N1.06bn at the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu. The projects were completed through TETFund’s special intervention programme designed to upgrade public tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The projects were unveiled on Friday in a ceremony that attracted government officials, representatives of the academic community, and stakeholders from across Nigeria’s Southeast region. The Tertiary Education Trust Fund, established by the Nigerian government, provides funding for infrastructure development and capacity building in public tertiary institutions across the country.
Representing the TETFund Board of Trustees, Mrs Esther Onyinyechukwu Ukachukwu, lauded IMT’s management for its resilience and accountability in ensuring timely completion despite economic challenges. She described the achievement as a reflection of what transparency and determination can accomplish in Nigerian public tertiary institutions.
“Out of N7.24bn allocated to IMT for infrastructural development over the years, the school has successfully accessed N6.22bn and delivered on key projects that are transforming its learning environment,” Ukachukwu stated. She commended the Enugu State Government, in southeastern Nigeria, for its continued support to IMT and assured that TETFund would sustain interventions that drive innovation, particularly in digital learning and artificial intelligence.
TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc Sonny S.T. Echono, praised IMT’s management for its prudence and efficient project execution amid harsh economic realities in Nigeria. He noted that institutions like IMT have demonstrated that with integrity and good management, public funds can achieve their intended purpose.
“Even with fluctuating market conditions, they have remained focused and delivered results,” Echono stated. He informed attendees that the TETFund Board had approved additional allocations to assist institutions with stalled or distressed projects, noting that such interventions were already yielding visible results nationwide.
Echono emphasised the importance of maintenance culture, urging IMT to preserve the newly commissioned structures to ensure long-term value. His remarks addressed a common challenge in Nigerian public institutions where infrastructure often deteriorates due to inadequate maintenance.
IMT Rector, Professor Gozie Ogbodo, assured that the institution remained committed to maintaining all TETFund-supported facilities. He stated that the institution takes maintenance seriously, noting that every project commissioned had been freshly painted and refurbished.
“We aim to create a modern and functional learning environment that inspires students and staff alike,” Ogbodo stated. The Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, is one of Nigeria’s prominent polytechnics offering diploma and higher national diploma programmes in various fields.
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund operates as an intervention agency under Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Education, mobilising and managing education tax revenue for intervention projects in public tertiary institutions across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
