Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has praised the impactful contributions of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) in bolstering the development of tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
Speaking during a visit from the National Assembly Committee on TETFUNDS Intervention and Other Services, Governor Radda highlighted TETFUND’s pivotal role in alleviating the financial burdens faced by state governments in maintaining and expanding higher education infrastructure.
Governor Radda acknowledged that TETFUND has been instrumental in funding significant infrastructure projects across Nigeria’s higher institutions, including those in Katsina State.
He expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to further enhance the educational landscape, anticipating that their presence in Katsina would lead to increased support for the state’s higher institutions.
One key area of focus is the heavily invested Faculty of Agriculture at Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, which, due to banditry, remains underutilized.
Governor Radda proposed converting the faculty into a fully operational College of Agriculture, maximizing its potential to benefit the state.
The Governor also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing prominent Katsina State figures, including former Governor Aminu Masari and Senator Muntari Dandutse, to key positions within TETFUND.
Committee Chairperson Mrs. Mariam Onowha noted that the committee was established to assist institutions in accessing unutilized TETFUND allocations, which currently amount to ₦500 billion at the Central Bank of Nigeria.
She praised Katsina’s tertiary institutions for their proactive approach, leaving only ₦1.4 billion inaccessible, and emphasized the committee’s commitment to enhancing educational infrastructure nationwide.