The Vice-Chancellor of University of Abuja, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, has expressed the readiness of the University to attain greater heights in not-too-distant time.
Professor Na’Allah, who made the pronouncement in a message to mark the 35th anniversary of the University, said UniAbuja recorded “many success stories” in academic and research, adding that there was “no going back” on its quest to attain “world class status”.
The Vice-Chancellor’s message read in part : “My dear University Community, As you might know, our University, the great UofA of Nigeria, is 35 years.
Since 1988, when it was established, it has been witnessing a steady rise and growth. We have had our ups and downs, teething problems, like any child passing through the phase of development, but we have never at any time succumbed.
“Though the University is over thirty, its aspirations are matured, and its hopes stronger – that we can be greater than any University, moving forward; after all, the UofA has a destiny, the destiny of location at the same seat of the nation’s President and National Assembly! No Jupiter can stop the progression of the University of Abuja to a world class status! It is its destiny!
“Perhaps, more than any time in its history, the desire for the University to rise is collective. This mindset especially among members of the management, students, staff and the entire university community became even more visible after it clocked thirty years.
We have realised that more than ever before, we can do it, we can lead, and we can change the world. With great things happening in our University today, with our staff engaged in cutting-edge research, attracting about N1 Billion in research grants to the University in 2022 alone, several programmes coming on stream and a swirl of physically 5 infrastructure on campus, including staff and student services, Counseling and Career Services Centre, International Centre, Student Employment and Mentoring Scheme, Indoor Sports Hall, Staff Social Centre, Staff Quarters at the Main Campus, new Student Hostels, and with the new Senate Building and new International Conference Centre underway, the University is set for greater heights!
“It is our determination that by the time the UofA reaches the golden age, it would have become the number 1 university in Africa and one of the finest in the World!
But we are not going to achieve that feat by merely hoping, we are going to be working harder than ever before, strengthening our research base, allowing for Performance Standards at all levels of academic cadre, including evaluation of full professors every three years with an annual celebration of successful Full Professors as role models on campus, perfecting our character, retraining our staff for the Global ranking, and satisfying our students yearning for global citizenship!
“It is not a mere coincidence that we celebrate our new age on the first day of every new year. The symbolism is not lost on us that we have to make a new resolution or strengthen our resolve: to never relent but continue to work harder until we become the real number one.”
RN