Dr. Kole Shettima, Director of MacArthur Foundation Africa, has said the foundation offered over $15 million in support to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, to enhance learning and research for national development
The Director made this known while presenting ABU’s Diamond Jubilee Public Lecture titled: “The Challenges of Quality High Education in Africa”.
Shettima said the foundation was very excited about its interventions at ABU Zaria.
He said part of the support for the institution includes the installation of fibre optics and the linking of the ABU Teaching Hospital, Shika to the Samaru and Kongo campuses of the university.
He added that the foundation also supported 67 PhD and 87 Masters’ students, among other interventions.
The director appealed to the government and other key stakeholders on the need to increase funding and transparency for the higher education sector in Nigeria.
He explained the transparency and accountability component was to ensure efficiency in service delivery in the sector and stem the `japa syndrome’.
Shettima, therefore, advised the Alumni of Ahmadu Bello University to support its alma mater towards augmenting government efforts to further salvage the institution from its numerous challenges.
Earlier, Prof. Kabiru Bala, Vice-Chancellor of ABU acknowledged the long relationship between the foundation and the ABU stressing that besides TETFund no individual, local or international organization has supported ABU like Mc Arthur Foundation.
He said the university community remained indebted to the Director of the foundation for the support in ICT infrastructure, digitization and automation of libraries and establishment of some centres.
Bala said the centers include the center for development communication; rural finance; veterinary public health and reproductive health among others.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that ABU was established in 1962 and the diamond jubilee celebration ought to have been celebrated in Oct./Nov. 2022 but the ASUU strike could not allow the celebration hence the event now.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Occasion, Alhaji Munir Ja’afaru, urged the government to prioritize funding of tertiary education in Nigeria, adding that education was the bedrock of nation development.
He added that it was a collective responsibility to ensure these tertiary institutions have the necessary resources to flourish.’
Ja’afaru urged the alumni of ABU to rally together and came to aid the institution adding that ABU has become a national asset that must be protected from potential collapse.
