Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP/Taraba South), on Monday donated a N500 million science laboratory complex to the Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State.
In a brief speech at a ceremony to inaugurate the facility, Bwacha, who is the Deputy Minority Leader in the senate, said that the gesture was to encourage the development of science education in the new university.
He explained that the laboratory was equipped with modern facilities that would place the institution ahead of its contemporaries in the areas of research and scholarship.
“I also want this laboratory to be a major source of empowering the younger generation through quality education for self reliance,” he said.
Bwacha pledged more intervention projects for the school, adding that he would continue to lobby other public and private corporate bodies to provide intervention projects and programmes for the institution.
He assured the university community of his determination to ensure that the instrument establishing the Federal University, Wukari was successfully passed by the National Assembly and assented to, by the President.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abubakar Kundiri, appreciated Bwacha for the gesture and challenged others to emulate that spirit.
Kundiri said that Bwacha had a pedigree for promoting community development and excellence, and lauded his commitment to improving the lot of the common man.
“I have inspected the project and I am happy to say that it is a world class facility with four fully-equipped laboratory rooms, furnishings for the preparation rooms and additional furnishings for staff offices.
“The senator has also provided seven utility vehicles to ease the activities at the laboratory; this is very commendable,” he said.
The vice chancellor commended Bwacha for other projects executed at the school, and particularly lauded the upgrading of the staff school to a child-friendly education facility that had supported the university and the Wukari community.
“The staff school now produces youths skilled in various trades, all thanks to Bwacha,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Bwacha had earlier distributed scholarships to 262 students of tertiary institutions from his senatorial district.