Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed has assured the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) of the continued support and cooperation of his administration towards the realization of the common goal of attainment of educational excellence.
The Governor gave the assurance at the commissioning ceremony of classrooms, laboratory and office blocks at the Gubi and Yelwa campuses of the University on Thursday.
He noted that the provision of such important infrastructures is testimony of the commitment of the institution to ensure a conducive environment for teaching and learning.
Bala Mohammed who was represented by his Deputy, Rt Hon Auwal Jatau, applauded the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for its relentless support to tertiary education institutions towards the attainment of academic excellence across the country.
He also said that the construction of classrooms and office blocks as well as other facilities would not only provide conducive working environment but would also strike a balance between academic and administrative activities in the university.
He recalled that Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi which started as a College of the Ahmadu Bello University in the early 1980s, has over the years grown to become a citadel of learning that can be favorably compared with even the first generation universities.
He added that, with the increase in the number of both academic and non-academic staff in the university, the need arose for more offices to adequately accommodate them.
Bala Mohammed further noted that ATBU Bauchi has lived up to expectations by prudently deploying its resources to infrastructural development and pointed out that, his administration’s commitment to the educational sector has been unwavering as reflected in the various policies and programmes implemented in the sector.
According to him, “I would like to commend the governing Council, the Senate and Management of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University for working hard to make the Institution one of the best not only among its contemporaries but even among the first-generation universities in the country.”
“Today, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University can boast of two campuses where various courses are seamlessly run,” he added.
The Governor told the gathering that in pursuit of accessible primary education, the state government has undertaken the construction of over five thousand classrooms, thereby creating an environment conducive to learning for young minds.
According to him, in recognition of the pivotal role teachers and administrators play, the administration has engaged in comprehensive training and capacity-building programmes, forming partnerships with the Federal Government and donor agencies to uplift the standard of state educators.
He also said that considering that education is the bedrock of progress and development of every society, his administration has since its inception in 2019, invested a lot of resources to address decay in the education sector and has been providing infrastructural facilities and necessary support to its primary, secondary and tertiary educational institutions to ensure hitch-free academic activities.
Bala Mohammed then noted that facilities have been provided at the State University which include the construction of 3 Kilometers of the road at the Gadau Campus, the extension of power supply to the faculty of Basic Medical Sciences and procurement of laboratory equipment and reagents and collaboration with TEFFUND to improve existing structures and build new ones.
