NEDC Hands Over State-of-the-Art Entrepreneurship Institute to Taraba State University

Taraba State University (TSU), Jalingo, has recorded a major boost in its drive towards innovation and skills development with the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Entrepreneurship Institute funded by the North East Development Commission (NEDC).

The facility was formally commissioned by the Honourable Minister of State for Regional Development, Barr. Uba Maigari Ahmadu, during a colourful ceremony attended by top government officials, university management, and other dignitaries.

The Vice-Chancellor of Taraba State University, Prof. Sunday Paul Bako, led members of the management team in receiving the Minister and his delegation. Among them were the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NEDC, Hon. Mohammed Goni Alkali; the Pioneer Chairman of the NEDC Governing Board, Paul C. Tarfa; Abdulsalam Y. Ahmad; Musa Umar; and Yashi Benjamin Wesley Tafida. Also present was the Commissioner for Special Duties and Humanitarian Affairs, Hon. Saviour Noku, who represented the Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas.

In his remarks, Alkali described the Entrepreneurship Institute as one of the Commission’s flagship interventions in the North-East. He disclosed that the ultra-modern complex comprises two conference halls, fourteen offices, two secretariat offices, waiting areas, and conveniences on each floor. The Institute is further strengthened by a fully equipped ICT Centre, with 50 desktop computers installed in the software laboratory and 20 hardware equipment toolkits provided for the hardware laboratory.

Beyond the academic facility, Alkali revealed that the Commission also constructed a solar-powered 10,000-gallon overhead water tank at the Female Zenith Hostel to improve water supply within the university community. He noted that the intervention underscores NEDC’s commitment to rebuilding and strengthening educational institutions in the region. He urged students to take full advantage of the facilities to acquire entrepreneurial and technological skills relevant to today’s economy.

Commissioning the project, Minister Ahmadu commended the Governor, the Vice-Chancellor, and the university management for their dedication to advancing education in the state. He stressed that the new Institute has the potential to nurture innovative and self-reliant graduates capable of competing globally. The Minister reiterated that the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to prioritising education and youth empowerment as key pillars of national development.

Representing the Governor, Hon. Saviour Noku expressed appreciation to the NEDC for its impactful intervention in Taraba State. He lauded the Vice-Chancellor’s proactive leadership and formally received the project on behalf of the state government and host community.

In his closing remarks, Prof. Bako announced that the facility has transformed the Entrepreneurship Centre into a full-fledged Institute with four departments. He assured stakeholders that the university would deploy the structure effectively to enhance students’ competence, creativity and employability upon graduation.

The commissioning of the Institute signals another strategic milestone in the growth trajectory of Taraba State University, reinforcing its commitment to innovation, skills acquisition, and academic excellence in the North-East region.