The Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Ibadan, has expanded its academic infrastructure with the completion of a new staff office complex financed through a N1.3 billion intervention from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
The facility was officially presented to the university on Saturday at a ceremony attended by members of the institution’s management, including Vice-Chancellor Prof Adesola Ajayi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof Caleb Aborisade and Registrar Mrs Omolola Olanrewaju.
Designed to improve working conditions for academic staff, the building features 34 offices. The facility includes 10 offices for professors with additional spaces for their research assistants, 10 ensuite offices for professors and another 14 offices for senior lecturers.
Ajayi said the project addressed a long-standing challenge faced by the institution, as the university had lacked sufficient office space for its academic workforce from its early years.
According to him, getting the TETFund approval was noteworthy because institutions that had received the agency’s support for more than five years had been advised to channel subsequent allocations towards the upkeep of existing projects instead of embarking on new construction.
“Tech-U was able to secure the approval of a N1.3 billion Tertiary Education Trust Fund intervention to deploy its intervention for the construction of the staff office building, making it one of the few institutions in that category to receive 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,” the VC revealed.
The Vice-Chancellor said the institution would continue to pursue opportunities to improve its infrastructure.
“The university would seek to secure further TETFund interventions to address additional infrastructure needs.”
He also urged the construction company to support the university through its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative by assisting with the electricity connection to the newly completed building.
Ajayi acknowledged the contributions of APD Associates, Kadex Express Limited and the university’s maintenance personnel towards the successful delivery of the project.
Majolagbe, who represented APD Associates, said the consultancy firm appreciated the cooperation it received from the university throughout the construction period.
Durojaiye of Kadex Express Limited also commended the university’s management and project supervision team for their assistance during the execution of the work.