BY TAYE OBATERU
Jos— Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is to construct a Centre of Excellence at University of Jos in pursuit of her objective to contribute towards improving the standard of education in the country.

CBN Governor, Malam Lamido Sanusi, said at the presentation of the building designs for the centre to the university’s management at CBN headquarters, Abuja, that necessary steps must be taken to salvage the country’s educational sector.

A statement by the university’s spokesman, Mr. Steve Otowo, quoted Sanusi as saying it was in this regard that CBN resolved to build world class facilities in select universities through the centre for excellence initiative.

The CBN governor, who was represented by Head, Project Planning and Implementation Division of the bank, Mr. Edward Adamu, explained that the institution was chosen to benefit from the initiative because of her excellent contribution towards producing high level manpower for the economic and financial sectors of the country.

He said the facility would include a faculty building with a conference centre and hostel accommodation.

Sanusi  added that the bank will assist universities establish institutions where standard of equipment and infrastructure were comparable to others worldwide.

Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Hayward Mafuyai, thanked CBN and the governor for the gesture which he described as timely and invaluable.

He noted that the university has despite limited infrastructural development, been producing the best brains in the sector citing the incumbent President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Professor Francis Ojaide and former Director General of Nigerian College of Accountancy, Jos, Professor Ambrose Okwoli as example.

He pledged the cooperation of the institution for smooth execution of the project and appealed to the consultants for timely completion of the project.