By Andee Iheme
The Vice-Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Professor Muhammadu Ahmad AbdulAzeez, has commended the World Bank-supported Sustainable Procurement, Environmental, and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) Project for its positive impact on the university, its host community, and the entire northeastern Nigeria.
Welcoming a team from the World Bank and the Independent National Facilitation Unit for the SPESSE Project, the National Universities Commission (NUC), which came to assess the Centre’s level of compliance with the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) for the SPESSE Project, the Vice-Chancellor stated that the effects of the SPESSE Centre of Excellence were being felt across the entire university. From the Centre’s ultramodern classrooms and laboratory facilities to its high-speed internet connectivity, powered by the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN).
SPESSE adopts a hybrid model of lecture delivery, Professor AbdulAzeez noted, which the university would leverage to expand its reach and minimise the cost of maintaining physical facilities which, for ATBU, currently stands at a staggering NGN 2.1 million, annually. The Vice-Chancellor commended the deployment of the Learning Management System (LMS) and the LMS devices and expressed delight at the opportunity that it presents to the university to explore Open and Distance Learning as a means of expanding access to university education. He commended the SPESSE Centre Leader, Professor Ibrahim I. Garba, and his team for their commitment and dedication to the ideals of the Project.
Leader of the delegation and Environmental and Social Safeguards Consultant with the NUC, Mr. Oliver Nwuju, applauded the commitment of the ATBU-SPESSCE team. He commended the Centre for its adherence to environmental guidelines in the rehabilitation of the SPESSCE building and for going the extra mile in putting together a structure that is environment-friendly.
Professor Garba thanked the Vice-Chancellor for giving his team a free hand to run the Centre and commended the World Bank and NUC for their support. He assured the team that the Centre would not relent in its efforts to bridge identified gaps in the fields of procurement, environmental standards, and social standards in the public and private sectors. ATBU-SPESSCE would continue to explore collaborations with relevant stakeholders within and around northeastern Nigeria to ensure that stakeholders take advantage of programmes run by the Centre.
In the business sessions before and after the courtesy call, the 2022 performance of the Centre was reviewed and its 2023 workplan was fine-tuned. The visitors were also conducted on a tour of the Centre’s facilities by Professor Garba, assisted by the three Deputy Centres and other members of the ATBU-SPESSCE team.
Others in the visiting team from the NUC Project Implementation Unit were Ms Yvonne Orekyeh (Communications Officer), Ms Airudulu Lulu (Project Management Assistant), and Ms Elsie Ihunde (Gender-based Violence Consultant). Joining the meeting remotely was Mrs Onyinye Akauba, PMA/Gender and Social Development Officer with the NUC.
