TETFund Unveils Publishing Centre In UNIZIK To Boost Textbook Production

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has commissioned an Academic Publishing Centre (APC) at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, to spice up the manufacturing of educational textbooks and strengthen publishing capability throughout tertiary establishments within the South-East.

The centre, commissioned on Friday by the Chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees, Aminu Bello Masari, is designed to function a regional publishing hub for increased establishments, offering them with entry to fashionable printing amenities {and professional} publishing providers to handle challenges related to the manufacturing of educational textbooks and different scholarly supplies.

Speaking on the commissioning ceremony, Masari, who was represented by the South-East member of the Board, Esther Ukachukwu, mentioned the institution of the centre mirrored the Fund’s dedication to enhancing instructing, studying and analysis by way of focused interventions within the tertiary schooling sector.

Masari defined that TETFund’s Higher Education Book Development Project was launched to develop entry to high quality educational publications and strengthen indigenous publishing capability in Nigerian universities and different tertiary establishments.

He disclosed that the Board of Trustees made a submission to the Federal Government for N2bn to begin the Higher Education Book Development Project in 2009, which was subsequently accredited.

According to him, a further N2.95bn was offered in 2019, whereas the Technical Advisory Group Committee was reinvigorated and inaugurated in August of the identical 12 months to strengthen the implementation of the venture.

He mentioned one of many main targets was to ascertain and equip mannequin Academic Publishing Centres in chosen establishments throughout the six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory, with their providers prolonged to public tertiary establishments inside their respective areas.

The South-East centre, positioned at UNIZIK, is due to this fact anticipated to supply publishing providers for educational textbooks and different scholarly supplies produced by establishments throughout the zone.

Masari described schooling as a strategic sector that should obtain precedence consideration, noting that TETFund would proceed to introduce interventions that promote innovation, enhance studying outcomes and strengthen analysis growth.

“TETFund will continue to deliver responsive intervention programmes and will be at the forefront in promoting creative and innovative approaches to educational learning and championing new literacy-enhancing areas.”

The TETFund BoT chairman, nevertheless, charged the college and different beneficiary establishments within the South-East to make sure that the ability was correctly managed, successfully utilised and sustained.

“It is the expectation of the Fund and that of the Federal Government that the beneficiaries will reciprocate this gesture by ensuring that the APC located in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, is put into operation, properly managed and sustained by the host and beneficiary institutions within the zone,” he mentioned.

He additionally solicited the cooperation of stakeholders to make sure the profitable take-off of the centre, assuring that the Fund would stay dedicated to transparency and accountability within the discharge of its obligations.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Chairman of the Academic Publishing Centre Board, Prof. Bond Ugochukwu Stanley Anyaehie, described the commissioning as a major milestone.

He expressed the college’s dedication to making sure that the ability turns into operational and serves its meant function.

Speaking additional, the VC expressed optimism that the UNIZIK facility would function effectively and successfully.

“So, on my honour, I pledge to make use of it, and try to operate the board and also get input from other universities to see how we can run it, and do all we can to protect it,” he mentioned.

Anyaehie additionally thanked TETFund for finding the venture on the college and appealed to the Fund to contemplate extra interventions that might help the establishment and different tertiary establishments within the area.

The commissioning ceremony additionally featured an inspection of the centre’s amenities, together with fashionable printing machines and different state-of-the-art gear put in to help educational publishing. Dedicated personnel have been additionally seen on obligation, signalling preparations for the graduation of operations.