The vice chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Adul-Rasheed Na’Allah, has said to complement the recent giant strides in academic development, his administration laid a solid foundation propelling advanced and cutting-edge research and innovations by academics and students.
He stated this in his address on the occasion of the 28th convocation held Saturday, 17th February, 2024 at the Convocation Square, Main Campus, Airport Road, Abuja .
He said: “With relevant committees operating and coordinating the research, innovative, and creative efforts of both staff and students, the University of Abuja will continue to attract humongous institutional and individual research grants.”
For instance, he said, since the period of the last convocation to date, the university has received the total external research grants in USD in the sum of N3,171,763.84 and from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, alone, (TETfund) N175,832,386.00.
This translates to a total sum of N3,030,419,842.00 which if the trend continues will only strengthen the status of the University of Abuja as the leading research hub in the Nigerian University system.
The VC added that, Ffundraising, partnership, and scholarship drive are efforts to accelerate the transformation of the university in a collaborative drive aimed at raising additional funds from sundry sources.
He noted that it is heartwarming to acknowledge and appreciate the inaugural editions of some scholarships and awards of excellence.
The Senators Wives Association of Nigeria (10th Assembly) recently awarded scholarships to 18 indigent female students of this university covering school charges, accommodation, computer laptops, and living allowance for the duration of the studies of the beneficiaries.
Na’Allah stated that, the Hajiya Hadiza Mamman Vatsa Foundation also offered 65 students of this university scholarship, while the STROM Foundation for Community Development has also institutionalised in perpetuity an award of excellence for the Best Graduating Students in 10 academic programmes with each awardee receiving N500,000.
He said these partnerships and support are hinged on our embracing fundraising as a veritable means of support for the activities and goals.
“We have institutionalised fundraising not only as a major source of internally generated revenue and critical means of academic growth and infrastructural development, but also made fundraising, philanthropy, and social innovation a professional programme, first at the postgraduate level, but ultimately as an academic course of study at all levels. As we take care of you and provided you excellent services and invested in your growth and development while on campus, I seize this opportunity to call on all alumni of this great university, including the newest graduates to support the university with ways and means at your disposal to help your alma mater retain its numero uno (number one) position in Nigeria,” Prof.Na Allah said.
