As part of the Education Sector Support Project to the Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU), the Project Coordinator in the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, Nilford Rose together with consultants and engineering companies have on Thursday 23rd June 2022, visited the university’s Goderich campus on assessments to acquire first-hand information on continuing construction and rehabilitation works.
HEMA, ICC, Rod International from Angola, formed part of a team of engineering companies who are bidding for the contract, whilst consultants for the project are EGC and Ideas Partnership.
The head of the Saudi Arabia delegation expressed profound delighted to be in the country, acclaimed all for facilitating the project that would soon commence and hoped that after completion they would come again to see it.
He continued that he is satisfied with the work done so far adding that they are also here to evaluate the King Salman Hospital as well as sign the agreement for the construction of 100 water wells as a grant from the Saudi government.
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia enlightened that the Saudi Fund is the major arm of the Saudi government’s support to development projects in overseas. He disclosed that Saudi Arabia has done a lot for the country over the years, citing over 300 Sierra Leoneans who have studied there.
MMTU is estimated to secure Twenty-Five Million United States Dollars USD $25M as an initial intervention out of the Sixty-Eight Million United States Dollars USD $68M project for tertiary institutions and government schools nationwide.
During the meeting to launch the bid for the contractors to participate in the bidding process at the Great Hall, Goderich Campus, Mr. Nilford Rose said that the event is to fulfil one of the requirements of bidding processes for contractors.
He said the multi-funded project is estimated at USD$68M, from the Saudi government, OPEC and Arab Fund for Development with the Government of Sierra Leone contributing Three Million United States Dollars USD$3,000,000.00. He underscored that the day is very important for contractors to have first-hand information on the work to be done.
Mr. Nilford Rose informed that ten new and fifty structures would be built and rehabilitated respectively, adding that the specifications and drawings would be submitted as part of the bidding process in addition to the site visit and revealed that on the 1st July this year, the bids would be opened in the Ministry of Finance and encouraged the contractors to make clarifications and ask questions underscoring that the meeting is binding for all bidders and is fair and transparent.
The Principal and Vice Chancellor, MMTU, Dr. Philip John Kanu extolled the Government for the initiative to construct new buildings and renovate others at MMTU, that the first since the institution was established in 1963, that the initiative is historic for MMTU that would transform the institution to an enviable status befitting its university status and assured all of their fullest support and cooperation for the success of the project onto its timely completion.
He also encouraged the contractors not to take the college staff and students for granted, assured that they would take good care of the facilities, the facilities will be regularly monitored by officials of State House, the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders. He also urged the contractors to complete the project in time before the June 24 2023 elections. A conducted tour of the Goderich campus formed the high point of the visit, followed by a stopover at the Congo Cross and Brookfields campuses.
