– President Tinubu says investing in quality education is a top priority for his administration
– The N4 billion Senate Building project at FUK is part of a larger federal push to boost tertiary education
– Over 687 capital projects have been delivered in higher institutions in just two years – TETFund
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving investments in Nigeria’s education sector, with a focus on enhancing access to quality learning across all levels.
The president made this known on Friday, July 5, 2025, during the groundbreaking ceremony of a ₦4 billion Senate Building at the Federal University of Kashere (FUK) in Gombe State.
Tinubu, who was represented by Prof. Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, described the project as a “landmark step” toward upgrading educational infrastructure and fostering national development.
FG rolls out major projects to boost tertiary education
Speaking at the event, Sonny Echono, Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), disclosed that four major infrastructure projects are currently underway at the university, supported through federal government intervention.
According to him, the new Senate Building is designed to include:
Over 100 offices
An archive section
A council chamber
Other essential facilities
“This is part of President Tinubu’s strategic investment in tertiary education,” Mr. Echono said. “TETFund remains firmly committed to supporting institutions like FUK with the resources needed to grow and thrive.”
He revealed that TETFund had successfully completed and inaugurated 687 capital projects across Nigerian tertiary institutions in the last two years alone.
Over ₦2 billion already invested in ongoing FUK projects
The Vice-Chancellor of FUK, Prof. Umaru Pate, highlighted key projects executed with TETFund support, including:
A newly completed postgraduate hostel worth ₦350 million
A 500-capacity lecture theatre, valued at ₦393 million under the 2022 capital intervention
The College of Medical Sciences Complex, a flagship project worth ₦1.3 billion, funded under the 2023 intervention
Prof. Pate also revealed that the university had named the new College of Medical Sciences after late Prof. Jibril Aminu, a renowned medical expert and former Minister of Education, in honor of his legacy.
Gombe Governor hails FG's efforts
Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State lauded the federal government and stakeholders involved, stating:
“Federal University of Kashere has come a long way in a relatively short time. I commend all who have contributed to its remarkable progress.”
He encouraged the university to remain resilient and continue to uphold principles of excellence, adding that institutions like FUK play a key role in national transformation.
Event Highlights
Other completed projects commissioned during the ceremony include:
A postgraduate students’ hostel
The newly built Medical College complex
A standard hostel facility
A 500-seater lecture theatre
The projects underscore the Tinubu administration’s push for educational reform and infrastructure renewal across Nigeria’s public universities.