By Magnus Effiong
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, has lauded the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof Florence Banku Obi, for her passion in completing projects which were abandoned and for initiating new ones.
Prof Ribadu who spoke while commissioning five projects estimated at N2.1 billion in the University, Saturday, during a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the institution and its 37th convocation, noted that Prof Obi had prudently utilized the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to the amazement of all.
PillarToday Correspondent, who monitored the event, said projects commissioned included UniCal Hall of Fame which gulped N825,906,627; Faculty of Engineering Workshop – N161,197,224; Pharmacy Administrative Block – N481,007,717; Fire Service Station – N184,309,263 while N378,830,388 was spent on the Faculty of Education building.
it was gathered that while TETFUND significantly funded the projects, the management of the university also deployed huge amounts from its internally generated revenue to ensure the projects were completed before the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent Vice Chancellor in December this year.
“Some of these projects were abandoned for decades with others constructed within just seven months. This is a great achievement by the incumbent Vice Chancellor, Prof Florence Obi and her team.
“TETFUND as an intervention agency gives out grants to universities and other tertiary institutions. With prudent management we hope to see many massive structures under the watch of this administration,” he stated.
In her remarks, the VC explained that the construction of the Hall of Fame “was borne out of a desire to have a hall large enough to accommodate academic, professional, administrative and other related social functions.”
She described the Hall of Fame as “one storey framed structure incorporating multi-purpose hall with 1500 seating capacity, gallery, offices and conveniences,” and that the Pharmacy Administrative block is housing the Dean’s office, sub-dean offices and other offices.
On the need for a Fire Station in the campus, Prof Obi noted that it was to ensure “rapid response to fire emergencies and accidents within the university campus,” and that the Station is a bungalow incorporating offices, conveniences and parking space for fire trucks.”
Our reporter gathered that the contract for the gigantic two storey Faculty of Education building was awarded in 2017 but abandoned two years after work had commenced.
The current VC, who took over from the former VC Prof Zana Akpagu in 2020, is said to have initiated the process for the recommencement of the project in 2023 and got it completed this year.
