By Felix Khanoba
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has commenced the construction of the Abuja Leadership Centre of Excellence in Public Governance at the University of Abuja, marking a major step in its broader intervention across Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
The foundation stone for the project was laid on Tuesday at Jahi, Abuja, by the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Architect Sonny Echono, alongside the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi.
At the ceremony, Echono revealed that the agency would commission about 467 projects in tertiary institutions across the country between now and October.
He emphasised that leadership remains a decisive factor in national development, noting that the progress or decline of nations is closely tied to the quality of leadership they nurture.
According to him, effective leadership involves the strategic coordination of intellectual, human and material resources, which, when properly harnessed, can accelerate the achievement of national development goals.
“It is my prayer and hope that this centre will become a stopping point for every leader visiting our country. It is not by accident that it is located in the nation’s capital,” he said.
Echono expressed confidence that the Abuja Leadership Centre would grow into a world-class facility capable of producing leaders for all sectors of the economy, while also serving as a venue for globally recognised speeches, conventions and declarations.
He urged the contractors handling the project to deliver a facility of international standard, assuring that TETFund would provide adequate funding not only for construction, but also for high-quality furniture and equipment.
He explained that the centre was conceived as more than a conference hall or auditorium, describing it as a world-class leadership facility where visiting heads of state and their delegations would feel comfortable, comparable to similar centres around the world.
Commending the University of Abuja’s management, Echono said the institution’s leadership had brought stability and clear direction, pledging TETFund’s continued partnership in realising the vision of the university’s founding fathers.
He added that the university, in line with its name and mandate, must continue to promote national unity, integration and excellence, particularly in leadership and governance.
On the planned commissioning of projects, Echono noted that it would be impractical for TETFund to commission every project directly. He disclosed that at least 50 iconic projects would be selected nationwide, with a minimum of two to three in each state.
According to him, the selected projects would highlight the impact of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda on the transformation of Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, while the media would be invited to participate in the commissioning exercises across the country.
“In a few days, we will be commissioning projects in that university, and we will invite you to come and see them, because the Renewed Hope Agenda is real and you are going to see it.
“We have put together a very elaborate programme, and I am inviting the media to join us across the country. Between now and October, we have about 467 projects to commission across Nigerian tertiary institutions,” he said.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Fawehinmi, described the occasion as significant, stating that the groundbreaking ceremony represented a new phase in the partnership between the university and TETFund.
He said the Abuja Leadership Centre would function as a centre of excellence for public governance and leadership, positioned as a national hub for training future leaders who would contribute meaningfully to policy formulation and national development.
Fawehinmi praised Echono’s leadership of TETFund, noting that the agency, under his guidance, has transformed tertiary education through investments in physical infrastructure, staff development, libraries and other critical facilities.
He expressed confidence that TETFund would ensure the timely completion and proper furnishing of the centre to enable it to meet its objectives.
Assuring that the university would maximise the use of the facility, Fawehinmi described the project as a landmark intervention that would leave a lasting legacy.
“Today, we further cement our long-standing relationship, and we are happy to say that this Abuja Leadership Centre is a centre of excellence for public governance and leadership.
“It is a national hub for training future leaders who will stand their ground and be involved in policy decisions for the development of their country.
“We thank him and his team. We know that we have a long-standing relationship and we hope to nurture it well into the future. Our Executive Secretary, you have done very well over the years. You have led one of the most formidable intervention agencies for tertiary education and education in general in this country, and we are very proud of you,” he added.
