Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) has received over N14 billion in the past 15 years from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for the development of key infrastructure in the institution.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of TETFUND, Aminu Masari, disclosed this yesterday when he commissioned five major infrastructural projects worth over N7 billion at the university.
Projects inaugurated include the Faculty of Biological Sciences Building, Faculty of Physical Sciences Building, Faculty of Engineering Phase 1 Building, Faculty of Management Sciences Building, and Faculty of Agriculture Laboratories and Classroom Administrative Buildings.
Masari stated that the federal government, under President Bola Tinubu, is committed to funding projects and promoting research in tertiary institutions nationwide, in line with his Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Our mandate is clear: to ensure that public tertiary institutions in Nigeria are adequately equipped with the physical infrastructure necessary to enhance teaching, learning, and research.
“We are committed to creating an enabling environment that stimulates creativity and innovation, thereby positioning our institutions as active contributors to national growth and development. This aligns perfectly with the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration”, he said.
Regarding TETFUND’s intervention in AKSU, he stated, “Since 2010, Akwa Ibom State University has consistently benefited from TETFund’s interventions. From 2010 to 2025, the University has received a total allocation of 14,476,013,835.31 (Fourteen billion, four hundred and seventy six million, thirteen thousand, eight hundred and thirty five naira, thirty one kobo only) specifically for infrastructure-related projects under the Annual, Special, Zonal, and Special High-Impact intervention lines.
“Of this amount, a substantial portion has already been accessed, with only about N2.67 billion (Two billion, sixty seven million naira only) outstanding for access as ongoing projects reach maturity and completion.
“This is a remarkable achievement. With sustained judicious use of these funds, I am confident that the University will continue to position itself as a beacon of academic excellence and research, not only within this region but globally”.
Masari urged the University to ensure the proper maintenance of its facilities to prevent early deterioration and to maximise the value from the resources invested.
“Let me assure you that TETFund remains committed to supporting Akwa Ibom State University in its quest for excellence. We will continue to back your drive for creativity, research, and innovation, while sustaining our support for infrastructural development”, he said.
Vice Chancellor AKSU, Professor Nse Essien, in his remarks, thanked the federal government through TETFUND for providing funds for the projects.
He said, “The projects will add value to our university in no small measure as we put to use 189 new offices, 51 Classrooms, 40 state-of-the-art laboratories and about 237 restrooms, among others.
“Without being immodest, permit me to quickly emphasize how important these facilities are to our academic ecosystem: Apart from enabling more advanced research and laboratory work in fields like environmental biology, genetics, biotechnology, and microbiology, the Faculty of Biological Sciences will make a substantial contribution to preparing scientists and public health experts to tackle regional and worldwide issues.
“For courses like chemistry, physics, mathematics and statistics, the Faculty of Physical Sciences offers state-of-the-art laboratories and instructional areas. This infrastructure will promote innovation, hands-on learning, and the advancement of STEM education.
“The founding of the Faculty of Engineering represents a turning point in the evolution of our university. This facility will accelerate our students’ disposition to receive top-notch instruction in fields vital to the development of the country, given the rising demand for engineers in the fields of oil and gas, power, civil works, and ICT”.
