Quality of Infrastructure, Impacts Quality of Education-Fashola UNEC – Deputy Vice Chancellor: We Are Grateful for The Intervention The commitment and actual execution of internal road network project, intervention in various federal Tertiary Institutions has greatly impacted on increased quality of education in Nigeria. These were the affirmation by the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola – SAN, CON at Enugu. The Minister who was represented by the Federal Controller of Works in Enugu State, Engr. Tony Animaku confirmed this during the commissioning and hand over of the 0.8-kilometer road rehabilitated by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on behalf of the Federal Government at the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus (UNEC). Speaking further, the Minister said that the gap of our infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction on major highways and it has reached the schools. It is undebatable that the quality of education as attested to by students themselves has been greatly impacted on by the quality of these recent Federal Government infrastructure. These are some of the feedbacks from student in the schools such as this one in the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC) where these varied types of intervention have taken place. The Minister Babtunde Raji Fashola also confirmed that the Ministry has successfully intervened in 64 Internal Road Projects in various Federal Tertiary Institutions and handed over a total of 46 as at March, 2022 and has another 18 ready to be handed over, while we are currently attending to 19 roads in similar institutions across the country making a total of 85. Among the several students interviewed, they all expressed renewed enthusiasm with regards to attending classes because of some of these defective roads, which have been restored to good condition, making them happier walking with ease to attend lectures across their different Faculties and Departments where these road network rehabilitations were carried out. President Muhammadu Buhari’s consistent progressive ideal of improving the human condition continues with the handover of this 0.8-kilometer road in the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus (UNEC) as a critical intervention to support education in Nigeria. Fashola also stressed that although this is a civil works project, yet it is both an investment in education and the Nigerian Economy. He said Infrastructure is the key needed for unlocking the Economy for speedy development, according to him the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has achieved advancement of the Nigerian economy through massive and visible Infrastructure development. For instance, the creation of employment and market for small and medium enterprises at construction sites ‘Infrastructure is the key that unleashes trade and productivity. And without infrastructure you can’t drive trade and commerce’ This is so because during the construction period over 100 people were employed in the process contributing to the creation initiatives of the Government. It is hoped that the school will ensure that this asset is used properly and not abused. Earlier, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. Edith O. Nwosu, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Work Services, UNEC, Engr. Udechukwu Humphrey Chukwuemeka, appreciates Federal Government efforts for considering the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus worthy of this lofty venture which the Federal Controller of Works in Enugu handled. The road network actually gave a face lift to the internal roads we have in the University, most importantly the Nnmadi Azikiwe drive transverse, through the major Faculties we have in UNEC, we have about five (5) Faculties – we have the Faculties of Law, Basic Medical Sciences, Business Administration, Health Sciences and Environmental Sciences (80%) Eighty percent of the students stream this road to attend their lectures. The University is deeply grateful to the Federal Government and the Ministry of Works and Housing. Some student who spoke expressed satisfaction with the ease of walking conveniently through these road network within UNEC – Mr Amobi Ezekiel a Law student was all smiles of appreciation to the Federal Government and the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Miss Chisom Elizabeth, also a Law student affirmed what her course mate had earlier said, it was a very colourful ceremony and the entire University Community, the shuttle bus drivers especially were all full of gratitude for the rehabilitation of these internal road network within UNEC. ...

FG Reiterates Commitment to Improving the Human Condition •    As Minister’s representative commissions, hands over rehabilitated internal road in UNILAG •    Says the new enthusiasm among students is consistent with FG’s progressive ideals •     It is very clear that if our future will be secured, we must invest in education, says VC as she commends FG’s initiative The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to the ideal of improving the human condition in the country saying the current intervention of the government in the rehabilitation of internal roads in Federal institutions nationwide was consistent with that ideal. Represented by the Federal Controller of Works in the State, Engr. Olaseni Umar Bakare, at the official handing over of a rehabilitated road in the University of Lagos,  the Minister said while it was true that work was in progress in many sectors of the country’s national life including education, the Buhari government has stepped out to lead the process of getting that work done, adding, “The gap of our infrastructural need is being steadily being bridged by gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction of major highways and it has reached the schools”. Noting that the interventions were impacting on the quality of Education in the institutions, the Minister declared, “It is undebatable that the quality of education will be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environment”, adding that those who doubt it should simply listen to the feedbacks from the students of schools where such intervention has taken place. He said that the commitment to the ideal of improving the human condition could well be seen in the renewed enthusiasm for learning being shown by students of the tertiary institution which have so far benefited from the ongoing interventions adding that UNILAG has joined 46 other institutions which have so far benefited from the process. According to the Minister, “We have successfully intervened in 64 internal road projects in various federal institutions and handed over a total of 46 as at March, 2022. We now have another 18 ready to be handed over while we are currently attending to 19 other roads across the country in similar institutions bringing it to a total of 83”. Expressing the hope that the roads being rehabilitated in Federal institutions across the country would be used properly and not abused by the beneficiaries, he pointed out that although the current interventions are civil projects, they are also investments in education adding that they fulfill the job creation initiative as over 40 people were employed in the process of the construction of the road in UNILAG. In her welcome remarks earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Folasade Olusola, while thanking the Federal Government, President Muhammad Buhari and the Minister of Works and Housing for what she described as, “this great initiative of intervening in tertiary institutions”, declared, “It is very clear that if our future will be secured, we must invest in education”. Noting that the manpower that develops the nations is produced by the universities, the Vice Chancellor added that if the enabling environment were not created in which the manpower would grow then the future of the nation would be mortgaged. “Everyone has a role to play”, she said. She expressed gratitude to the Minister for also resurfacing the road from the UNILAG Bookshop to the Medical Centre which she described as previously “terrible” adding, “You gave us a total rehabilitation of that road because if one was passing through that road, you would think you were passing through a gulley. I am very grateful for the work you are doing in infrastructure in terms of our road”. In an interview after the handover ceremony, the Vice Chancellor said the rehabilitated road was hitherto “impassable”, adding, “When we gave people houses on this road usually, they turned it down because the road was a real challenge and it was so bad that it was beyond what we could handle. It was beyond maintenance and it really needed rehabilitation”. “We are grateful to the Federal Government and we assure them that we will continue to maintain the road because it creates a good environment for our academic work”, she said adding, “We are trying to create an environment for our students and our staff to flourish. We want to make life easier for them and we are looking forward to much more in terms of road network”. Pointing out that the UNILAG Campus is small but has land which could be expanded, the Vice Chancellor pointed out that the institution needs to open up the land to be able to develop it adding, “One of the things about roads is that they go with development, if we have roads then we can have more classrooms and hostels because they will be built along the roads. So, as we say thank you to the Federal Government, we also say please don’t leave us we are still here and we need more assistance so that we can open up more areas in the university”. There were also expressions of gratitude from both staff and students who attended the ceremony in their numbers in spite of the fact that many faculties were conducting examinations. The Dean of Students’ Affairs, Professor Musa Adebayo Obalola, thanked the Federal Government for the intervention saying before the rehabilitation, the road was “quite bad”. The Dean, who said he had been in the institution for over three decades, both as a student and then lecturer, added, “One thing that we seem to lack as a people, may be due to oversight or our cultural trait, is that we do not maintain our assets as much as we should but in the rehabilitation of this road it has been beneficial to both faculty members and students”. “I think I've been here for over three decades, as a student and as a faculty member of the university. As a staff I've been here for more than two decades. So, I'm qualified to talk about the condition of the road before and now. Prior to the rehabilitation most vehicles avoid this road. They would rather take Ozolua Road and others rather than plying this road but now almost everyone wants to start plying this road”, he said. On the Park which was also rehabilitated, the Dean said, “Oh, yes that one is beneficial to everyone. It’s where we have our shopping mall. The place was giving us a lot of headaches before its rehabilitation. For the road you might say its beneficial to those that live around here but that one is like a shopping complex that almost everyone visits on a daily basis so the construction of that place was a very beneficial one to the entire university community even to outsiders. Over the years we've tried to do some palliatives but it didn't last but the way it is looking now it is “quite commendable and beneficial to the entire community.” “What the Federal Government is doing is quite a commendable gesture because I don't think any university has the financial muscle to do this. So, the intervention of the government in this regard is a welcome idea and we hope to see more of it as the year rolls on because there are still little parts of our road that needs this treatment but so far largely our roads seem to be in good shape now”, he said. Others who spoke included the Acting Director of Works of the institution and the President of the Students’ Association of the Faculty of Social Sciences who spoke for the student’s body. They all expressed delight and gratitude to the Federal Government “for the work done by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.” The President of the Students’ Union said, “The road we are standing on is called Abdul Attah Road. The road was so bad that lecturers allocated houses there refused to take the houses but today as you can see it’s a beauty to behold. We thank the Federal Government for this effort. The roads will improve the condition of learning and teaching. We can now go to classes and come back without the fear that our vehicles will break down”. ...

Road Rehabilitation Has Technically Improved Learning... Fashola ... A Clean environment has increased attendance at Lectures. Yaba Tech Rector. The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, has confirmed that the rehabilitation of some roads within Yaba College of Technology, Yaba Lagos State has technically improved the desire for learning in students of the institution. He made this assertion during the official Commissioning and handover of some rehabilitated roads by the Federal Government under the Ministry of Works and Housing. The Minister, who was represented by Engr. Umar Bakare, the Controller of Works in Lagos State, said that the Federal Government considered the huge impact of improved educational activities in both these learning institutions and hospitals where these internal road network interventions have been carried out a commitment fulfilled. The result is what we are seeing already with improved and increased number of students who now attend lectures that eventually earns them good grades at graduation. It is therefore undebatable that the quality of education has been impacted by the quality of Infrastructure and the neat and clean learning environment. Speaking further, Fashola said that students are now more readily expressing renewed enthusiasm with regards to attending lectures because some defective roads and especially here, the student carpark has been restored to good condition. The Minister also asserted that during the construction of these internal roads network and the College carpark, over forty (40) direct and indirect people were employed in the process, thereby contributing to the job creation initiative of lifting Ten Million Nigerian from poverty. It is hoped that the College will now ensure that this asset is used properly and not abused. Earlier, the Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Engr. Obafemi Omokungbe glowingly commended the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, who when he invited as Guest Speaker to deliver the College annual graduation Lecture, was approached with these rehabilitation request promised to ensure it is attended to, this is a promise kept by the Minister, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola. For this the entire College Community are grateful and this high commendation also goes to President Muhammadu Buhari who approved that all these necessary infrastructures be put in place. The Rector also confirmed that the impact on school attendance during the raining season has also increased tremendously thereby boosting the increased number of students who now attend lectures more regularly. Nevertheless, Engr. Omokungbe informed that due to the overflow of students, a new campus has been opened at Epe still in Lagos state. This new campus requires the construction of new roads for which the College is passionately appealing for assistance from the Federal Government through this same internal road network intervention, this Engr. Obafemi Omokungbe said will enhance the movement of students within the new campus facilities. Also commenting, the Director of Works in Yaba College of Technology, Engr. A. Adebayo was full of praises to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola who has kept his promised made to the College, he also thanked the Contractor who handled the rehabilitation work for the quality of work done, more so the staff of Federal Ministry of Works, Lagos state who did not compromise standard. He said the rehabilitation of the College carpark and a section of the internal road network intervention was well done. He expressed satisfaction and joy. In the same vein, the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Aderounmu who was represented by the First Vice President of Student Union Government, Mr. Adenle Oluwatosin was grateful to God, President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola and their Rector, Engr. Obafemi Omokungbe for the privilege of this project that has positively affected the lives of students of the College. He affirmed that there is no more excessive flooding, therefore students who own cars are now able to park their cars in a neat environment, regular lecture attendance by students has increased due to this rehabilitation intervention in the College. He said the intervention is good for them. He said on behalf of the students they promise to make judicious use of the infrastructure and also take very good care of it to ensure its longevity. The colorful commissioning and handover ceremony was well attended by the Deputy Rector, (Administration) Mr. Inyang Udoh, the Registrar, Dr. Sikiru. O. Momodu, the College Bursar. Mr. Abduwaheed. A. Yeusuf, the Director of Works in the College, Engr. Bashir. A. Adebayo, the first Vice President, Student Union Government, Mr. Adenle Oluwatosin, the Assistant Director (Highways) Engr. (Mrs ) Olukorede Kesha and students of the College who  were all happy and commended this project initiative of the Federal Government. ...