The Executive-Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Sonny Echono, on Thursday commissioned a world-class international Conference centre at Bayero University, Kano.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony held at the university’s new site on Thursday, Echono said the centre, which had been abandoned for years, was completed in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, supporting national development, global competitiveness, and financial independence for universities.

“He wants us to equip our institutions so that they can compete with any across the world; when you have a modern facility like this that competes with any other facility anywhere around the world, it shows that we are uplifting our standards,” he said.

According to him, TETFund has initiated a new intervention line over the last two years to address the issue of abandoned and distressed projects, enabling it to complete a high number of uncomplicated projects.

He noted that the commissioned centre will serve as a hub of activities that will attract all and sundry, boost revenue generation and be seen as an iconic project that will enhance campus architecture and restore a sense of grandeur to the university environment, while also providing a space for research and development.

“This centre will be a major source of activities and revenue, which can now attract any level of conferences to be hosted here,” he said.

While assuring the BUK’s new leadership of sustaining its partnership, he advised them to ensure proper maintenance and functioning of the facilities.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Adamu Abbas, thanked TETFund for coming to the aid of the university with funding for the project.

He said the facility is equipped with all the facilities required for an international conference centre, adding the centre comprises over 38 rooms for accommodation, halls and open spaces, among others.

He said the project was conceived by a former VC, Prof Abubakar Rasheed, over 15 years ago, urging the incoming Vice-Chancellor to find a policy of using it for the purpose for which it was established.