The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) executive secretary, Sonny Echono, has commissioned a world-class International Conference Centre (ICC) at Bayero University (BUK), Kano.
Speaking during yesterday’s ceremony at the university’s new site, Arc. Echeno said the centre, which had been abandoned for years, had been completed following President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope in supporting national development, global competitiveness, and financial independence for universities.
“He wants us to equip our institutions that they can compete with any across the world; when you have a modern facility like this that competes with any other facility anywhere around the world, it shows that we are uplifting our standards,” he said.
According to him, TEDFund has initiated a new intervention line in the last two years to address the issue of abandoned and distressed projects and complete a high number of uncomplicated projects.
He said the commissioned centre will serve as a hub of activities that will attract all and sundry, boost revenue generation abe nd seen as an iconic project that will enhance campus architecture arestoreres a sense of grandeur to the university environment, while also providing a space for research and development.
“This centre will be major source of activities and revenue which can now attract any level of conferences to be hosted here,” he said.
While assuring the BUK’s new leadership of sustaining its partnership, he advised them to ensure proper maintenance and functioning of the facilities.
Earlier in his welcome address, BUK’s vice chancellor, Prof Adamu Abbas, thanked TETund, for coming to the aid of the university with funding for the project.
He said the facility consists of all the facilities required for an international centre, comprising over 38 rooms for accommodation, halls, and open spaces, among other things.
He said Professor Abubakar Abdulrasheed conceived the facility over 15 years ago and urged the incoming vice-chancellor to find a policy for using it for its intended purpose.
