FG Plans N800m Library For UNIPORT

Determined to boost research in tertiary institutions, the Federal Government has promised to build an N800 million state-of-the-art research library for the University of Port Harcourt.
The Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, who made the pledge on Tuesday, during a facility tour to UNIPORT, explained that the document that would enhance the beginning and the completion of the project were ready.
Shekarau pointed out that funds would be drawn from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to execute the project, adding that university will not survive without research.
The proposed modern library, according to the minister, will encourage lecturers and students to go into researches and come with innovations.
He stated that the documents for the construction of the library would soon be handed over to the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Joseph Ajienka.
“The Federal Government is happy about the number of projects in the University of Port Harcourt and we are ready to build a state-of-the-art research library in the institution.
“The project is going to cost N800 million. We are doing this because we know that the university is about research. In fact, remove research and there will be no university. Any moment from now, the document will be handed over to the vice chancellor of this university,” the minister said.
Shekarau, who also interacted with UNIPORT students, described projects being executed in federal and state universities as part of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Explaining that the TETFUND intervention was for both state and Federal Government tertiary institutions, Shekarau said education should not be politicised in any form.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the university hailed the contribution of TETFUND to the development of tertiary institutions across the country, adding that UNIPORT remains the only university in Nigeria with a foundation.
Ajienka lamented that the university had been facing the challenge of land encroachment by its host communities, attributing the situation to the inability of the Federal Government to pay them (host communities) compensation.