The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, on Thursday commissioned a state-of-the-art International Conference Centre at Bayero University, Kano (BUK).
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony held at the university’s new campus, Echono described the project—abandoned for several years—as a significant milestone completed under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, aimed at advancing national development, enhancing global competitiveness, and promoting financial autonomy within Nigerian universities.
“President Tinubu is committed to equipping our institutions to compete globally. A modern facility like this positions our universities on par with others around the world, reflecting a commitment to raising standards,” Echono said.
He highlighted that in the last two years, TETFund introduced a special intervention initiative to address abandoned and stalled projects, which has led to the successful completion of numerous straightforward infrastructure projects across tertiary institutions.
The newly inaugurated centre, he noted, is expected to serve as a hub for academic, professional, and social activities, enhancing revenue generation and contributing to the architectural and intellectual vibrancy of the university.
“This facility is not just a building—it’s an opportunity. It can now host conferences of any scale, generate income for the university, and serve as a symbol of institutional excellence,” he added.
Echono assured the university’s leadership of TETFund’s continued support and urged them to prioritise proper maintenance and optimal use of the facility.
In his welcome remarks, BUK Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adamu Abbas, expressed gratitude to TETFund for providing the funding needed to complete the long-delayed project.
He noted that the centre includes more than 38 accommodation rooms, conference halls, and open spaces, and is equipped to international standards to host large-scale academic and professional events.
Prof. Abbas also paid tribute to former Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, who originally conceived the project over 15 years ago, and called on the incoming administration to ensure the centre is used for its intended purpose.
