TETFund Pledges Priority Attention to UI Channelization to Avert Flooding Disaster

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has assured that the ongoing channelization at the University of Ibadan (UI) will be given priority to prevent potential flooding disasters. This was revealed by Rt. Hon. Sunday Adepoju, a Southwest representative on the TETFund Board, during a visit to the university following alarming reports about flooding in Awolowo Hall.

During the visit, Adepoju emphasized that TETFund is committed to ensuring the safety of students and the surrounding community, noting that the situation in Awolowo Hall was not as dire as media reports suggested. He stated, "We have seen what needs to be done to prevent damage in Awolowo Hall and adjoining areas," reassuring that immediate steps will be taken to address the issue.

Adepoju was accompanied by Arch. Babatunde Olajide, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, and Engr. Taiwo Lukman, Southwest Zonal Coordinator. The team was received by Professor Peter O. Olapegba, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), who led an inspection of the campus. Olapegba explained that the flooding in Awolowo Hall was caused by plastic waste blocking drainage channels, and the university took swift action to clear the obstruction.

The inspection also covered flood-prone areas, including Awba Dam and the Ajibode Extension, where Olapegba emphasized the need for extensive channelization efforts. He called on the Federal Government and TETFund to provide special ecological interventions to mitigate serious flooding risks, which could affect not only the university but also neighboring communities.