By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has allocated more than ₦14.47 billion to Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) over the past 15 years to support the development of vital infrastructure aimed at advancing teaching, research, and innovation.
This was disclosed on Monday by the Chairman of TETFund’s Board of Trustees and former Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, during the official commissioning of five newly completed projects at AKSU, valued at over ₦7 billion.
“From 2010 to 2025, the university has benefited from a total allocation of ₦14,476,013,835.31 across various intervention lines, including Annual, Special, Zonal, and Special High-Impact programmes,” Masari said.
He noted that the university had already accessed a substantial portion of the funds, with just about ₦2.67 billion remaining for ongoing projects nearing completion.
Commending AKSU for its prudent utilization of the funds, Masari expressed confidence in the institution’s rising academic profile. “With continued judicious use of these funds, I believe AKSU will further cement its place as a hub for academic and research excellence not just regionally, but globally,” he said.
The newly commissioned projects include:
• Faculty of Biological Sciences Building
• Faculty of Physical Sciences Building
• Faculty of Engineering (Phase I) Building
• Faculty of Management Sciences Building
• Faculty of Agriculture Laboratories, Classrooms, and Administrative Buildings
Masari reaffirmed TETFund’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, stressing the importance of infrastructure in supporting quality learning. “Our mandate remains clear: to equip public tertiary institutions in Nigeria with the necessary infrastructure to foster effective teaching, learning, and research,” he stated.
He also urged the AKSU community to ensure proper maintenance of the new facilities and assured the institution of TETFund’s ongoing support.
In his remarks, AKSU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nse Essien, said the new projects mark a transformative phase for the university, adding 189 offices, 51 classrooms, 40 cutting-edge laboratories, and over 230 restrooms.
“These facilities will greatly enhance academic delivery and research, particularly in areas such as environmental biology, genetics, biotechnology, microbiology, and other scientific fields,” he said.
Essien also described the new Faculty of Engineering building as a landmark development that will enable the university to train professionals for critical sectors including oil and gas, power, civil engineering, and ICT.
He praised TETFund’s unwavering support, noting that the agency’s interventions have helped AKSU align with global academic standards and better respond to both local and international challenges through education and innovation.