The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced the establishment of six cutting-edge multidisciplinary research laboratories across Nigeria, aimed at eliminating the need to send research samples abroad for analysis.
Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), led by its President, Arc. Mobolaji Adeniyi.
Echono said four of the laboratories are currently under construction in Port Harcourt, Kano, Abuja, and Lagos, with the remaining two set to commence before the end of the year. According to him, the new facilities will enable Nigerian researchers to conduct advanced scientific studies locally, boosting innovation and research output.
Highlighting broader infrastructural improvements, Echono revealed that TETFund will soon commission several iconic projects nationwide, with four major unveilings scheduled for Kano and Osun States before the end of the month.
“When I assumed office, one of the biggest observations was the random, uninspired structures across campuses. We’re now transitioning to iconic buildings that reflect the dignity and ambience of academic environments globally,” he stated. “Nigerians will begin to see campuses that reflect the serene and grand atmosphere typical of citadels of learning.”
Echono, a former president of the NIA, also pledged to support the furnishing of the Institute’s Resource and Exhibition Centre currently under construction. He further announced the endowment of an annual prize for architecture, as well as sponsorship of the Institute’s journal publication.
In her remarks, NIA President Arc. Mobolaji Adeniyi commended TETFund’s infrastructural strides under Echono’s leadership and called for greater involvement of NIA members in the design of educational facilities.
“These interventions have left indelible marks on the development of Nigeria’s tertiary education sector,” she said. “The TETFund Centres of Excellence and the improved architectural standards in our institutions truly reflect the character and presence expected of citadels of learning.”