The Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, has passed a vote of confidence on the management of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo, RUGIPO, in Ondo state for its efficient use of resources allocated to it by the Fund.
A statement by John Akinduro, the spokesman to Ondo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Olayide Adelami, said the fund’s team made the declaration during a courtesy call on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in Akure on Friday.
Led by Rt. Hon. Sunday Adepoju, BoT member representing the Southwest, the team was in RUGIPO to commission several projects supported by TETFund, including faculty of applied sciences building, faculty of engineering technology building, 250-twin lecture theater, construction and furnishing of academic staff offices, among others.
The project commissioning was part of activities marking the 12th to 23rd convocation ceremonies of the polytechnic.
Remarking, Adepoju said RUGIPO has continuously kept a culture of excellence and accountability by ensuring that the polytechnic has no abandoned projects.
According to him, “We have come to see for ourselves what TETfund has done for the polytechnic. How the fund allocated to it is being utilized. We have seen and we are very pleased with RUGIPO.
“Many projects have been commissioned and I have no doubt that if Rufus Giwa Polytechnic has more than the current fund, they will make good use of it. I am highly impressed because we have not noticed any abandoned project.
“They have proven that they are accountable, and are adding value to the graduates that they are churning out every year”
He further stressed that the Fund will continue to support RUGIPO in the areas of infrastructure and capacity strengthening.
“Anytime Rufus Giwa Polytechnic needs our assistance, we will do it. TETFUND has competent, qualified and highly exposed staff and they have done the nation proud. They have the right skillset to deliver” Adepoju disclosed.
In his reaction, Governor Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by his deputy, Olayide Adelami, thanked TETFund for its partnership and support for the state-owned tertiary institutions.
“You have displayed your capacity and partnership and lived to the objects of TETFUND as a truly intervention institution by the number of projects executed in our public institutions in Ondo state. We want to thank you and ask for more.
“We have positioned ourselves as an investor-friendly state and we value every productive partnership” the governor said.
He commended the founding fathers of TETFUND and President Bola Tinubu, for raising the bar of performance for the Fund and also investing in education, emphasising the President’s creation and funding of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), aimed at increasing access to higher education for Nigerian youths.
The governor received the TETFund team in company of Secretary to State Government, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prince Segun Omojuwa, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun and DG/CE of OSRC Media Group, Mr Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson.
