The Vice-Chancellor presenting drawings of the project to the representative of the Contractracting firm.

Vice-Chancellor of RSU, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Rivers State University (RSU) has commenced construction of a new Faculty building for Medical Laboratory Science, funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), in a move aimed at strengthening infrastructure and improving teaching and learning at the institution.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, marked the commencement of the 365-day project, which is designed in accordance with the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS).

The three-storey structure, comprising a ground floor and two suspended floors, will feature eight professorial offices, an office for the Dean, a Faculty Boardroom and four lecture halls, each with a capacity for 200 students.

It will also house specialised laboratories for the various units of the Faculty, while the project scope includes complete furnishing and installation of the required equipment.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of RSU, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, commended TETFund for its sustained intervention in the development of tertiary education across Nigeria, particularly in infrastructure, career development, information and communication technology and maintenance.

Zeb-Obipi urged the contractor to execute the project expeditiously while maintaining the highest standards of workmanship and structural integrity.

The Vice-Chancellor at the project site.

He warned against defects such as cracks and leaks, stressing that the quality of the facility must not be compromised in the course of construction.

The Vice-Chancellor also ruled out variations to the approved project cost, directing the contractor to procure materials early and adopt effective planning to prevent delays.

He added that subsequent payment tranches would be released only after the verification of corresponding project milestones.

To strengthen monitoring and accountability, the university constituted a Project Monitoring Committee comprising professionals in architecture, civil, mechanical and electrical engineering, quantity surveying and estate management.

The committee, headed by Prof. Ferdinand Daminabo, was mandated to provide continuous professional oversight and ensure that construction conforms to approved specifications, standards and timelines.

Describing the committee as the “eyes of the University” on the project, Zeb-Obipi charged its members to maintain strict and consistent supervision until completion.

The contractor, an alumnus of the university, expressed his pride in returning to contribute to the development of his alma mater.

He pledged to personally supervise the project daily, assuring the university management that it would not be handled as an ordinary public contract.

He further promised quality execution and timely completion, saying the engineering team was committed to delivering a facility that would be a source of pride to the university community.

The ceremony was attended by principal officers of the university, heads of campuses, deans of faculties, as well as staff and students of the Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science.