The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has commenced construction of the Abuja Leadership Centre of Excellence in Public Governance at the University of Abuja, marking a major investment in leadership development and higher education infrastructure in Nigeria.
The foundation stone for the project was laid on Tuesday at Jahi, Abuja, by the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Architect Sonny Echono, alongside the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi.
Speaking at the ceremony, Echono disclosed that TETFund plans to commission about 467 projects across tertiary institutions nationwide between now and October.
He emphasised that leadership remains a critical driver of national development, noting that nations thrive or decline based on the quality of leadership they produce. According to him, effective leadership requires the coordinated use of intellectual, human and material resources to achieve national development goals.
“It is my prayer and hope that this centre will become a stopping point for every leader visiting our country. It is not by accident that it is located in the nation’s capital,” Echono said.
He expressed confidence that the Abuja Leadership Centre would grow into a world-class facility capable of producing leaders for all sectors of the economy, while also hosting internationally renowned speeches, conventions and declarations.
The TETFund Executive Secretary charged contractors handling the project to deliver a facility of global standard, assuring that the fund would provide resources not only for construction but also for high-quality furniture and equipment.
According to him, the centre is envisioned as more than a conference hall or auditorium, but as a premium leadership facility where visiting heads of state and delegations would feel at home, comparable to similar centres anywhere in the world.
Echono commended the University of Abuja’s leadership for providing stability and direction, pledging continued collaboration to advance the institution’s founding vision. He stressed that the university must continue to promote national unity, integration and excellence, particularly in leadership and governance.
On the nationwide commissioning exercise, Echono explained that while it would be impractical to commission all projects directly, at least 50 iconic projects would be selected across the federation, with a minimum of two to three in each state.
These projects, he said, would highlight the impact of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda on the transformation of Nigeria’s tertiary education sector. He invited members of the media to participate in the commissioning exercises across the country.
“Between now and October, we have about 467 projects to commission across Nigerian tertiary institutions,” Echono stated.
Earlier, Vice-Chancellor Professor Fawehinmi described the event as a significant milestone in the partnership between the University of Abuja and TETFund. He said the Abuja Leadership Centre would serve as a national hub for public governance and leadership training, producing future leaders who would play key roles in policy formulation and national development.
Fawehinmi praised Echono’s leadership of TETFund, noting that the agency has transformed tertiary education through investments not only in infrastructure but also in staff development, libraries and other critical facilities.
He expressed confidence that the Abuja Leadership Centre would be completed on schedule and properly equipped to achieve its objectives, assuring that the university would make optimal use of the facility.
Describing the project as a historic intervention, the Vice-Chancellor said it would remain a lasting legacy in Nigeria’s higher education and leadership development landscape.
Elijah Adeyemi
