The China Civil Construction Company (CCECC) last month handed over the phase one of the $50 million Federal University of Transportation Daura, Katsina State to the federal government.
The Chairman of the group, Mr. Dai Hegen, said that the completion of the university marked a significant milestone in the realisation and dedication through the deliverance of the long-expected vision, noting that the existence of the university would strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and China.
In a speech by the Chairman, he said that for the past 43 years the company have pursued mutual development and amicable cooperation with Nigerian government and people. As one of the major players in the infrastructure industry, CCECC has always been committed to striving together with the nation and added: I am honored to have your esteemed presence in this ceremony, to witness the handing-over of the Federal University of Transportation, which is another testament to our dedication to Corporate Social Responsibility and the promise of mutual development with Nigeria.
The Federal University of Transportation is located in Daura, Katsina State. It is an investment by CCECC with the total amount of 50 million US dollars. This is one of our modest ways of giving back to Nigeria and helping the technical advancement of the country. During the implementation of the project, more than 600 jobs were created, and many technical exchange programs were conducted.
As a company with strong sense of CSR and a company that values Diligence, Integrity and Perseverance, CCECC has overcome many obstacles such as the Covid-19 pandemic for the timely delivery of this high-quality project. Now, I am so delighted to see that young Nigerians could pursue their academic studies in this University. I believe that, in the shortest time, the University itself will become a beacon of progress in the development of the country, especially in the transportation sector and a milestone of the modernization of the nation.”
He added that the project is a vivid example of CCECC’s implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, which he believes that this University will serve as a crucial cornerstone for the modernization of transportation infrastructure in Nigeria.
Responding, the Minister of Transportation, Seidu Ahmed Alkali, who hosted the handing-over ceremony of the Federal University of Transportation, Nigeria (Phase 1), which was built by CCECC and donated to Nigeria, stated that the completion of the university was indeed a huge achievement and of significant value for economic growth and social well-being through societal development.
Building the university, he said, was part of the corporate social responsibility of the Chinese contracting firm, CCECC.
During his remarks, Alkali stated that in addition to the giant project, the CCECC had also built the Kajola Rail Wagon Assembly Plant in Oyo State.
He disclosed further that the corporation sponsored about 200 Nigerian undergraduate students in various Chinese universities and supplied medical equipment worth millions of naira to Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of corporate social responsibility.
Describing the Federal University of Transportation, Alkali said: “It is unique in form, standard in structure and has satisfied the requirement of the National Universities Commission (NUC), which attracted the enactment of its establishment Act No. 34 of 2022.”
The transportation minister commended the role of the pioneer Vice Chancellor, Prof. Umar Adam Katsayal, in working with the CCECC team to conclude Phase 1 of the project and for facilitating the handing over.
Alkali stated that during his first inspection visit in October 2023, after he assumed office as Minister of Transportation, the university had only the Vice Chancellor without principal officers required to facilitate its take-off.
He said: “Barely seven months from October 2023, the ministry under my leadership facilitated the release of some funds by CCECC from the capital allocation of Phase 1 of the project to fund logistics, travelling, sourcing for approvals for take-off, development of relevant documents for NUC, liaising with the Budget Office of the Federation, Accountant General of the Federation, Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, TETFUND, neighbouring universities to secure mentorship, JAMB and the Federal Ministry of Education.”
He said with his intervention and personal contacts with ministries, the university has commenced academic activities for the 2023/2024 session with principal officers/few support staff appointed.
On his part, the Governor of Katsina State, Dr. Umar Dikko Radda, the host community to the university, who commended the federal government for its enormous support for considering establishing the university in Katsina State, also thanked the former President Muhammadu Buhari under whose leadership the university was sited in Daura.
0 Comments