Date Published: 06/09/09
PRIVATE UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN NIGERIA: A SUCCESS STORY OF PRIVATE EFFORTS
By Hajiya Hafsat M. Zanna
There is no gainsaying in the fact that the deregulation of the Education sector put in place by the IBB Regime in 1990s has in several ways become a blessing to Nigeria and Nigerians. Firstly, it has become beneficial because it has created more openings for O level students to gain admission into the universities. Secondly, it has offered an opportunity for our secondary school leavers to acquire qualitative university education within the country. Before the deregulation, getting admitted into Nigerian universities was not only a nightmare but also a Herculean task no matter ones grades.
The efforts of pioneers in the establishment of private universities must be commended for taking up the challenge to provide qualitative and affordable Education within the country. Notable among such universities are ABTIAmerican University, now American University of Nigeria, AUN in Yola North Eastern Nigeria founded by former Nigeria’s Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Igbenidion University in Nigeria’s South-South and Madonna University in South-West among others.
However, the singular effort and commitment of Atiku Abubakar in bringing education to the door steps of Adamawa people in particular and Nigerians in general through the establishment of a nursery/primary school and a secondary school in Yola and recently the University must be commended as it has given hope to the hopeless that qualitative education can be obtained here in Nigeria.
Atiku Abubakar, who is largely seeing as a seasoned and successful politician is also a philanthropist of repute and one who is committed to the development of education in the country. Even the President of AUN, Dr. David Smith had recently admitted in an interview that he rarely comes across a founder with constant commitment to the growth and well-being of a university and society in general as Atiku Abubakar.
AUN , christened ‘CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE’, has certainly lived up to expectation since its coming on board the education ship in September 2005.In addition to being centre of learning, AUN is aspiring to support original research and employ American approach to curriculum and teaching as well as creating and disseminating new knowledge to its students.
Furthermore, AUN is seeking to be the centre of a thriving cosmopolitan, cultural and economic community in Yola, the capital of Adamawa state, Nigeria.
The University boasts of one of the most up-to-date libraries in the world. This is in addition to its richly and enviably equipped science laboratories designed to meet the challenges of modern science and technology. The quality of its teaching staff is unparalleled in Nigeria’s educational history. None of its teachers holds a degree below a PhD.
What further makes AUN distinct among its peers in Nigeria and abroad is the high premium its founder, Atiku Abubakar places on making qualitative education not only a commodity of the children of the rich but also that of the children of the poor. Towards making this becoming a reality, Atiku Abubakar and AUN instituted a scholarship scheme that removes the feeling of alienation among students, mainly from poor parents. Race, tribe, or social backgrounds are insignificant in the admission policy of the university. The primary qualification for AUN’s scholarship scheme is academic performance of students seeking admission into its programmes.
The success story so far of AUN was climaxed late May 2009 when some of its students were awarded first degrees in various disciplines at a colourful convocation ceremony at the University’s permanent site in Yola, the Adamawa state capital.
Nigerians, particularly the Northern elites need to take a cue from the efforts of A tiku Abubakar in providing an alternative to the public funded university education being offered by government which is hardly enough to accommodate the teeming secondary school leavers in our midst.
HAJIYA HAFSAT M. ZANNA
( musahafsat@yahoo.com )
87, Gamboru Ngala street
Maiduguri
