A view of the University of Abuja under Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah

For several years, my view of the University of Abuja remained that of a small community, so timid to embrace the warm touch of the 21st century advancement in tertiary education.

The main campus of the University which sits strategically on the Airport Road looked too quiet with scattered, aesthetically poor buildings and structure dotting the large expanse of the over 11,000 hectares, while students and staff tended to have no sense of pride among themselves. I often wondered whether it was not only those who lacked a decent taste that usually chose the University for their studies.

Then three weeks ago, I attended the matriculation ceremony of a friend’s daughter, Nnena, who was offered admission without knowing anyone in this institution; and I took time to listen to the vice-chancellor’s address, went round the campus, engaged in chats with some students and staff, and my view of this University changed positively.

First, as I got through the gate of the main campus of the University, the infrastructural development here struck me immediately, especially since it was in early 2019 that I last visited the campus.

There were big physical structures rising everywhere, large trucks carrying heaps of sands and gravels and dumping them somewhere deep into the campus; new roads stretching several kilometres; portions of land getting cleared in preparation for more works, making the university look like a huge construction site, while electricity poles are adorned with boards showcasing the unique selling points of the University in various forms.

I  could not fail to see the new building of the Academic Conference Centre by the right of the gate, Academic Staff Office Complex for Faculty of Agriculture, a new Senate building under construction, Indoor Sports Hall, Lecture Theatre for Faculty of Law, Academic Staff Office Complex for Faculty of Law and the long fence round a reasonable part of the front view of the main campus. I could also notice that series of repairs and maintenances of structures were being carried out on buildings bringing out their beauty.