By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Gov. Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has called on Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to improve its funding for high impact projects in tertiary educational institutions in Kogi state.
Ododo who made the call when he paid a courtesy visit on the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Architect Sonny Echono at the headquarters of organization on Thursday in Abuja said the call is to enable accelerate human capital development in Nigeria.
The Governor Ododo expressed gratitude to the Executive Secretary for all the TETFund interventions in both Federal and State tertiary institutions in Kogi state and solicited for assistance in granting the state, access to improved funding for high impact projects.
“I commend TETFUND for the impact in the development of Tertiary Education in Kogi State particularly the speedy development of our brand new Kogi State University, Kabba which recently held its maiden matriculation of over 1000 first set of students and has fully commenced academic activities.
“I must say that TETFUND has made remarkable impact in supporting higher institutions in Kogi State but we will continue to seek your support for intervention in developing critical infrastructures in our tertiary educational institutions to help in advancing our agenda for accelerated human capital development in the state”, he said.
According to the Governor, the state government is in need of more interventions for its tertiary educational institutions especially under the Special High Impact Intervention Fund by the organization.
Governor Ododo who restated his administration’s commitment and agenda for human capital development in the state noted that Education remains the most important catalyst for development of any society.
He assured that his administration would promote key priority areas in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) in all the higher institutions in the state, to ensure that no child of school age is left behind in the state.
In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Architect Sonny Echono commended Governor Ododo for his servant leadership approach to governance.
He described the Governor as a “Hands-on Leader” who has put himself forward in the service of the people of the state.
Echono promised that TETFund would continue to support Kogi State through its interventions in tertiary education institutions to enhance the Governor’s vision of accelerated human capital development in the state.
It would be recalled that Governor Ododo was accompanied on the visit by the state Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones and the Vice Chancellor, Kogi State University, Kabba, Prof. Kehinde Eniola. (Ends)