TETFund BoT Inspects Projects, Pledges Support To Federal College of Education (Technical) Isu
By Alex Odeh
The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has inspected projects executed by Federal College of Education (Technical) Isu to ascertain the challenges faced by the institution in projects execution.
Mrs. Esther Ukachukwu, who led Members of Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), disclosed this during a familiarization visit to the Federal College of Education (Technical), Isu, in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Speaking during the visit, Mrs. Ukechukwu added that one of the reasons of their visit was to find out projects under distress and know if there were any unaccessed fund, “We also want to identify distressed projects and confirm whether there are unaccessed funds that the institution has yet to utilize,” she said.
According to her, the visit would provide opportunity for the members to assess the status of sponsored projects at the institution and identify possible challenges affecting their completion.
She emphasized that the BoT’s presence was not only to inspect, but to engage with the college authorities and provide necessary support. “If there are any issues you feel I can help with as a BoT member, that’s why I’m here,” she added.
The Provost of the College, Prof. Reuben Okechukwu, warmly received the delegation and expressed appreciation for the visit. He briefed the team on the college’s developmental journey since its establishment in 2020.
“We started on bare ground. Nothing was here,” he said. “Thanks to the generosity of the host community, we received over 170 hectares of land. The then-governor also gave us a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O). But unfortunately, the land is in a swampy area, and we didn’t anticipate the challenges during the dry season.”
According to him, although the college received a take-off grant in 2022 following its initial request in 2021, the construction projects faced severe setbacks due to the difficult terrain, ecological challenges, and the impact of inflation on building materials.
Prof. Okechukwu noted that despite efforts made, two of the major projects are now classified as distressed. “We have written to TETFund to report the situation. The terrain has been a major challenge,” he said.
Mrs. Okechukwu acknowledged the concerns and confirmed that the board is aware of the distressed projects. She assured the college management of the board’s support in resolving the issues and fast-tracking progress.
The visit marks a significant step in the effort to strengthen ties between TETFund and institutions in the South East, ensuring that allocated funds translate into tangible development and infrastructure for Nigeria’s educational sector.
