Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has urged the Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, Professor Kabir Bala, to pursue the options of individual and corporate endowments as a means of enhancing funding for the institution.
The minister gave this advice when a delegation from the university, led by the vice chancellor paid a courtesy visit to FCTA last week.
While responding to the issue of alumni support through endowment raised by the vice chancellor, Malam Bello said it was an option that had not been fully implemented.
He encouraged the vice chancellor to fully exploit its possibilities and potentials. He said: “The issue of university funding came up at a forum and alumni support was very prominent. This included endowments by people who are well to do and endowments by companies.
“I think it is not something that has been well implemented and I’m sure that during your tenure, if you continue the way you are doing, you will encourage more people through the way of endowment for educational institutions to give back, as part of giving back to the society.”
The minister stated that the FCT administration will also explore the option of working closely with the consultancy services of the university for provision of needed professional expertise.
He said: “There are lots of areas where we need expertise and I’m sure you will have it, whether it is in survey, town planning, urban renewal and so on.”
“We are trying to encourage and improve on our enforcement activities. For instance, our testing capacity for materials to test what people are using, either in constructing the roads of the FCT or the public buildings and even private buildings. I assure you that we will continue to provide you the needed support by consulting you.”
Speaking earlier, the vice chancellor said that the FCT Minister was one of the most distinguished members of the institution’s alumni and the meeting was intended to reach out to members. such as him.
He said: “We are lucky to have distinguished members of Alumni in this country and in Diaspora and they are major stakeholders. Alumni anywhere in the world are major stakeholders of universities and the minister happens to be one of those distinguished members of alumni of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.”
