PRE-DEGREE/CERTIFICATE REGISTRATION/SCHOOL FEES
NEEDS Implementation C’ttee Tasks South-South Varsities On Stewardship
- Details
- Published: 20 February 2017
Pro-Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University and leader of the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC), to the South-South of the NEEDS Assessment Intervention Project in Nigerian public universities, Architect Mohammed Dewu, has charged universities in the zone to be prudent in the management of scarce resources allocated for the purpose.
Architect Dewu made the remarks while speaking as Chairman at a two-day Retreat for universities in the South-South region between Monday and Tuesday last week at the Emmanuel Egbogah Auditorium of the Emerald Energy Institute, IPS Park. He disclosed that the Retreat was part of the statutory requirements by the IMC to take stock of the progress and challenges encountered in the implementation of the NEEDS Assessment Projects in each institution.
“We are here to interact and have a feedback from stakeholders for better performance. We are on a fact-finding mission that would enable us to hear from the beneficiaries of the progress and challenges in the implementation of the projects in their various institutions. If there are suggestions you want us to take back to the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC), please do well to inform us about them. I welcome you all to this Retreat and urge you to be frank and sincere in your presentations to enable us ascertain the actual state of projects in
each University,” the Chairman admonished the participants at the opening ceremony.
In his address, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Hakeem Fawehimni, who stood in for the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ndowa Lale, welcomed participants from sister institutions to the University, hoping that the Retreat would enable the stakeholders to properly appraise the implementation processes of the intervention projects of the Federal Government.
“This Retreat is holding under the auspices of the Implementation Monitoring Committee of the Tertiary Education Department of the Federal Ministry of Education. As you are already aware that this Retreat is aimed at facilitating interactions with beneficiary institutions to assess the progress made so far in the implementation of their NEEDS projects, challenges encountered and proffer solutions to address these challenges to attain a more efficient implementation process,” the Vice-Chancellor said in his address. He also hoped that the IMC evaluation would ensure that the funds provided by the Federal Government were properly applied for the purpose for which they were meant.
Following an excellent power-point presentation by Professor Fawehinmi on the total amount allocated to the University, the amount it has received so far in three tranches and the projects they were spent on, Chairman of the Retreat praised the University for the comprehensive report. Architect Dewu noted that the University had done well, judging from its presentation which included still pictures of completed and ongoing projects.
The IMC had convened the Retreat as an opportunity for institutions to make presentations on all aspects of physical projects and staff development, detailing the funds received or expected, challenges in the implementation of projects and other issues pertinent to successful implementation of the NEEDS Assessment Intervention Project.
At the end of the Retreat, the IMC delegation which included the President of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Mr. Sani Suleiman, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Uche Uba, National Universities Commission and Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, advised beneficiary institutions to be proactive in executing projects within stipulated timelines and approved cost.
They were also advised to respect procurement laws, open designated accounts for the NEEDS Assessment Projects, follow the NEEDS Assessment guidelines, work with competent Consultants and appoint Desk Officers for effective implementation of the projects. Institutions in attendance included University of Benin, University of Port Harcourt, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, University of Calabar, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Warri, Federal University, Otuoke, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Ambrose Alli University, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Cross River State University of Technology and AkwaIbom State University.
