TETFund flags off Abuja leadership centre, to commission 467 projects nationwide
By Uji A Iliyasu, Abuja
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has commenced the construction of the Abuja Leadership Centre of Excellence in Public Governance at the University of Abuja, even as it announced plans to commission 467 projects across tertiary institutions nationwide between now and October.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, performed the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the project on Tuesday at Jahi, Abuja, alongside the Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi.
Speaking at the event, Echono described leadership as a critical driver of national development, noting that nations rise or fall based on the quality of leadership they produce.
He said effective leadership requires the strategic coordination of intellectual, human and material resources to drive national aspirations.
“It is my prayer and hope that this centre will become a stopping point for every leader visiting our country. It is not by accident that it is located in the nation’s capital,” Echono said.
He expressed optimism that the Abuja Leadership Centre would evolve into a world-class facility capable of producing leaders for all sectors of the economy, while also hosting globally renowned speeches, conventions and declarations.
Echono charged the contractors handling the project to deliver a facility of international standard, assuring that TETFund would provide adequate funding not only for construction but also for high-quality furniture and equipment.
He explained that the centre was conceived as more than a conference hall or auditorium, but a premium leadership facility where visiting heads of state and their delegations would feel at home, comparable to similar centres anywhere in the world.
The TETFund Executive Secretary commended the leadership of the University of Abuja for the stability and direction it has brought to the institution, pledging sustained collaboration to realise the vision of the university’s founding fathers.
He added that the university must continue to promote national unity, integration and excellence, particularly in leadership and governance, in line with its mandate.
On the commissioning of projects nationwide, Echono said while it would be impossible for the agency to directly commission all projects, at least 50 iconic projects would be selected across the states, with a minimum of two to three in each state.
He said the projects would highlight the impact of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda on Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, inviting members of the media to participate in commissioning the projects.
“Between now and October, we have about 467 projects to commission across Nigerian tertiary institutions. The Renewed Hope Agenda is real, and you are going to see it,” he said.
Earlier, Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Fawehinmi, described the event as auspicious, noting that the groundbreaking marked a new chapter in the institution’s partnership with TETFund.
He said the Abuja Leadership Centre would serve as a national hub for public governance and leadership training, preparing future leaders for policy formulation and national development.
Fawehinmi praised Echono’s leadership of TETFund, noting that the agency had transformed tertiary education through infrastructure development, staff training, libraries and other critical facilities.
He expressed confidence that the project would be completed on schedule and properly furnished, assuring that the university would put the facility to optimal use.
“This is a historic intervention that will be remembered for years to come. The Abuja Leadership Centre is a centre of excellence for public governance and leadership, and a national hub for training future leaders who will shape the development of our country,” he said.