The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) on Tuesday turned the sod for the construction of the Abuja Leadership Centre of Excellence in Public Governance at the University of Abuja.

The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, performed the foundation-laying ceremony alongside the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Hakeem Fawehinmi, in Abuja.

Mr Echono said the fund would, between now and October, inaugurate about 467 projects on campuses of tertiary institutions nationwide.

He described leadership as a critical driver of national development, saying nations rise or fall based on the quality of leadership they produce.

According to Mr Echono, effective leadership requires the collective harnessing of intellectual, human and material resources to achieve national development goals.

He said, “It is my prayer and hope that this centre will become a stopping point for every leader visiting our country.”

The TETFund executive secretary tasked contractors handling the project to deliver a facility of international standard, assuring that funds would be provided for construction, furniture and equipment.

According to him, the centre is envisioned as a global leadership facility where visiting heads of state and delegations would feel at home.

Mr Echono commended the leadership of the University of Abuja for stability and direction, pledging sustained collaboration to advance the institution’s mandate.

On project commissioning, he said TETFund would select at least 50 iconic projects across states of the federation, with a minimum of two to three in each state.

Mr Echono said that the projects would showcase the impact of the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda on tertiary education development.

He stated, “We have put together a very elaborate programme, and I am inviting the media to join us across the country.

“Between now and October, we have about 467 projects to commission across Nigerian tertiary institutions.

Earlier, Mr Fawehinmi described the event as a milestone in the university’s partnership with TETFund.

He said the Abuja Leadership Centre would serve as a national hub for training future leaders in public governance and policy formulation.

The vice-chancellor praised Mr Echono’s leadership, saying TETFund had transformed tertiary education through infrastructure, staff development and learning facilities.