FedPoly Bali gets N6.3bn in 7yrs, commissions 22 projects

Dr. Abdullahi Bichi Baffa

Aminat Isah, Abuja

Authority of the Federal Polytechnic, Bali in Taraba state has received the sum of N6.3billion from the federal government through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund), for improved educational interventions, ROYAL NEWS has gathered.

Speaking on Tuesday at the commissioning of 22 projects in the institution, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Dr. Abdullahi Bichi Baffa, reiterated the commitment of the agency towards educational growth in the country.

He noted that the newly commissioned projects shall be utilised by the polytechnic as a way of encouraging the institution to become a Centre of Excellence in Agriculture Technology.

The TetFund boss who espressed joy at the extent of growth witnessed by the polytechnic since its inception, commended the management of the polytechnic for its foresight in providing not only the needed infrastructure and equipment for programmes already being offered by the institutions.

Dr. Baffa noted that the impending population growth of Nigeria as being forecasted, said that the present government is serious about planning for the needed developmental indices that will help take care of the well-being of the citizens.

He also lauded the institution for the focus on agricultural technology, pointing that it is part of the effort of the present administration to diversify the Nigerian economy as well as provide jobs for its teeming population through large scale farming backed with modern technology.

In his remarks, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Saidu Umaru, noted that the institution has received a total intervention disbursement of N6, 313,900billion since 2011, which enabled the polytechnic to construct various physical infrastructure and procure several academic facilities for science and engineering programmes.

The Rector further explained that the provision of the required facilities through TETFund intervention has made it possible for the polytechnic to complete self-study questionnaires for 11 National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes as required by the national Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for resource inspection visitation.

The programmes include; Computer Engineering Technology, Electrical-Electronic Engineering Technology, Building Engineering Technology, Architectural Technology, Agric and Bioenvironmental Technology, among others.

In her address, the Chairperson of the Governing Council of the polytechnic, Hajia Aisha Yelwa while thanking the TETFund boss for the visit, described the commissioning ceremony as a milestone in the history of the polytechnic as it was the first time a Chief Executive of TETFund would visit the institution.

She applauded the role of TETFund in providing critical infrastructure and equipment for teaching and learning cannot be overemphasized as it remains the most reliable means of getting facilities that enable tertiary institutions to compete favourably with their counterparts across the globe.

Findings by ROYAL NEWS revealed that the newly commissioned projects are; Academic Staff Office Block, 500-Seats Capacity Lecture Theatre, Electrical/Electronics and Computer Engineering Complex, 500-Seats Capacity Library Complex, 280 Seats Capacity ICT Centre Annex, One-Storey Block of School of Environmental Science and Technology, and One Block of 2nos Laboratories for Chemistry and Biology.

Others are Building and Civil Engineering Workshops, Block Making and Concrete Practical Shed and Implement Shade, Animal Farm Complex, Two 60-Seater Luxurious Buses, One 30-Seater Coaster Bus, Four 16-Seater Toyota Hiace Buses, One Combined Harvester Automobile, One 10,000litres Capacity Water Tanker, and Four Toyota Hilux.