President Tinubu Urges Efficient Utilization of NEEDs Funds in Tertiary Institutions
This directive came during the commissioning of the Oby Ezekwesili Female Hostel, a federal government project under NEEDS at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
AKACHI NOEL 
President Bola Tinubu has called upon administrators of tertiary institutions to diligently pursue access to the National Economic Empowerment And Development Strategy (NEEDs) funds allocated for various projects. This directive came during the commissioning of the Oby Ezekwesili Female Hostel, a federal government project under NEEDS at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
Represented by Mrs. Rekiyat Eliasu, the Director of Tertiary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, President Tinubu stressed the need for administrators to follow up on projects awarded under NEEDs, citing the impermanence of such interventions. Eliasu commended the Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK, Professor Charles Esimone, for ensuring the completion of the Oby Ezekwesili Female Hostel after a ten-year project timeline.
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In response, Eliasu acknowledged UNIZIK's proactive approach to enhancing teaching and learning quality, mentioning the institution's commitment to addressing infrastructure and human capital deficiencies. She highlighted the government's efforts through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) to tackle challenges in higher education and improve stakeholder relations.
President Tinubu's representative emphasized the capital-intensive nature of university education, urging all stakeholders to collaborate in addressing the funding gap. The President expressed satisfaction with TETfund's interventions and encouraged universities to take ownership of the projects to fulfill their intended purposes.
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During the 17th Convocation of UNIZIK, Vice Chancellor Prof. Charles Esimone announced the graduation of thousands of students across various degree levels. He also acknowledged the institution's improved global ranking and thanked the federal government for supporting UNIZIK with numerous completed projects.
The commissioning ceremony included various projects such as the NNPC International Center, Fire Station, Agric Road, Departments of Building’s Workshop and Laboratory, Environmental Sciences Technology, VC’s Gate Road, and the UNIZIK Business School Building.
