PPP will fast track our development plan, says Prof. Abdul Rahman.

The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, has stated the University’s readiness to engage in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to fast track its development.

The vice-chancellor stated this during the opening ceremony of a specialised training organised for staff of the newly established Directorate of Public-Private Partnership and other strategic units of the University.

Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor, Idris Amali, the vice-chancellor observed that for the University to achieve its goal of becoming one of the fifth best universities in Africa, there was the urgent need to engage the private sector in the provision of critical infrastructure for the University.

He identified PPP as a viable means of effectively addressing constraints of finance, and management, noting that his administration would take advantage of the PPP arrangement to positively transform the University and reposition it for global competition.

Abdul Rahman reminded participants at the training that they were carefully chosen to participate in the training because of the strategic role they were expected to play in the newly established directorate, calling on them to pay serious attention to training.

Also speaking, the resource person, Dr Chiedu Ndubuisi, a renowned consultant of PPP who is also the Financial Consultant and Managing Partner, ProHouse and Systems Ltd, appreciated the vice-chancellor and the University, at large, for given him the opportunity to interact with and sensitise staff of the University.

He said that the importance of PPP was to fill the resources gap in infrastructure delivery and operation and promote fast implementation of projects, reduce whole life cost of projects and offer better risks allocation between public and private sectors with sustainable incentives to perform in delivering jobs

Dr Ndubisi stated that PPP could enhance service provision to both students and staff in higher learning institutions.

Those who attended the training, included the Bursar of the University, Mr. Daniel Wilson, Deputy Bursar, Ovey Aboki, Ag. Head, PPP, Abubakar Ado, the Procurement Officer, Isa Keffi Tukur, store officers as well as selected staff of some strategic units in the University.