The Abiola Ajimobi Technical University (Tech-U), Ibadan, Oyo State, has taken delivery of a N1.3 billion staff office building constructed through a Tertiary Education Trust Fund intervention.
The facility, designed to provide additional office accommodation for academic staff, was formally handed over to the university at a ceremony attended by members of the institution’s management, Governing Council and other senior officials.
The new building comprises 34 offices across three categories.
They include 10 professorial offices with spaces for research assistants, 10 ensuite single professorial offices and 14 offices designated for other senior lecturers.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor Of Tech-U , Prof. Adesola Ajayi, described the completion of the project as a significant milestone for the university.
Ajayi said inadequate office accommodation had remained one of the institution’s major challenges since its establishment, noting that some spaces previously being used as offices were not originally designed for academic staff.
He explained that the project was particularly significant because TETFund had directed universities that had benefited from its interventions for more than five years to use subsequent allocations primarily for the maintenance of existing infrastructure rather than new construction.
According to him, Tech-U secured approval to deploy its TETFund intervention towards the construction of the staff office building, making it one of the institutions in that category to obtain such approval.
“The university has identified staff office accommodation as one of its most pressing needs. Several spaces previously being used as offices were not originally designed for that purpose,” Ajayi said.
The Vice-Chancellor expressed optimism about the future of the institution, saying Tech-U would seek additional TETFund interventions to address other infrastructure needs.
He also appealed to the contractor, Kadex Express Limited, to support the university through corporate social responsibility by assisting with connecting the new facility to electricity.
Ajayi commended the consultant, APD Associates, the contractor, the university’s maintenance team and other stakeholders for their contributions to the successful completion of the project.
The consultant, Abdulateef Majolagbe of APD Associates, praised the university management for its cooperation and proactive approach throughout the construction process.
The contractor, Kayode Durojaiye of Kadex Express Limited, also appreciated the university’s management and supervision team for their support during the project.
The handover ceremony was attended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Caleb Aborisade; Registrar, Mrs Omolola Olanrewaju; University Librarian, Dr Rahaman Akingbade; members of the Governing Council; deans; directors; heads of departments and other senior officials.
The event ended with an inspection of the completed building.
