The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd (CCECC) has officially handed over the Federal University of Transportation, Daura, Katsina, to the federal government.
The university, valued at $50 million, was developed as part of CCECC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to aid in developing skilled manpower for managing railway infrastructure across the nation.
The university, whose construction was initiated in 2019 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, stands as a testament to international cooperation and investment in Nigeria’s future. The handing-over ceremony, held in Abuja, was marked by speeches highlighting the importance of the university.
Liu Weimin, Chairman of CCECC, emphasised the company’s commitment to Nigeria’s technical progress. He noted that the project not only provided jobs for approximately 1,000 people during its construction but also included numerous technical exchange programs.
“Now, I am so delighted to see that young Nigerians could pursue their academic studies at this university. I believe, in the shortest time the university itself will become a beacon of progress in the development of the country, especially in the transportation sector,” Weimin stated.
The university’s completion faced numerous challenges, including the global COVID-19 pandemic, yet CCECC persisted to ensure timely delivery. Weimin expressed confidence that the institution will significantly contribute to Nigeria’s modernisation efforts, particularly within the transportation infrastructure.
Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali, lauded the project’s alignment with the National Universities Commission (NUC) standards, resulting in the enactment of the Establishment Act number 34 of 2020.
Alkali reflected on initial logistical hurdles and highlighted the collaborative efforts with key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education, NUC, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) that were essential for the university’s fruition.
Alkali also commended CCECC’s dedication to Nigeria’s educational development and its gesture to hand over the university for operational management.
“This marvellous undertaking in support of educational development in Nigeria and the initiative to hand over the university to the Ministry of Transportation is commendable,” he said.
Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Umaru Radda, also praised the project, attributing its smooth execution to the conducive environment fostered by former President Buhari.
He assured the institution of continued state support and encouraged local youth to seise the educational opportunities offered by the university.
Governor Radda expressed his gratitude, saying, “You have done very well by building this very big infrastructure in my state, and I must say that we thank you and appreciate you. We call upon all other companies to emulate this example and provide corporate social responsibility to their host communities.”
