The vice chancellor of Kogi State University (KSU) Kabba, Professor Kehinde Eniola, has expressed the desire of the institution to partner with interested investors, corporate organisations and individuals for the construction of hostel facilities for students.
Professor Eniola explained that the project through the Public Private Partnership, (PPP), would be based on build-operate-transfer to ameliorate the accommodation problem in the institution, and also ensure probity and accountability.
He noted that the high cost of living and rapid increase in students’ population have resulted in the high cost of accommodations around the university community.
Prof. Eniola who disclosed this at the second Matriculation of the University in Kabba, yesterday noted that the university is matriculating 1,060 students across all the faculties, for the 2024/2025 academic session.
The vice chancellor emphasised the need for the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to assist the university with infrastructural projects, noting that the existing structures were inherited from the Kogi State College of Technical Education.
According to him, the state government has invested immensely in the institution’s infrastructure citing many ongoing projects geared towards positioning it for academic excellence.
While calling for home grown solutions to national issues, the vice chancellor, urged TETFund to devote more funds to local trainings, research and infrastructural facilities which will in no small measures help the country attain its set goals.
He said he’s not averse to improving academic staff training and development outside the country but noted that “most times the foreign training does not meet the needs to resolve the challenges, thereby rendering the whole efforts useless.”
The VC however objected to the proposed scrapping of TETFund by the federal government saying it would spell doom for tertiary institutions in the country, noting that the impact of the Fund in various institutions of higher learning cannot be over emphasized.
He expressed deep appreciation to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for demonstrating genuine commitment and strong dedication to the university’s growth and development.
