BY VICTOR BUORO – Disturbed by the increasing rate of drug abuse and cultism in educational institutions nationwide, the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) authorities have introduced compulsory drug tests for applicants seeking admission into the university as fresh students.
Accordingly, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, said students that choose to study in the institution must undertake and present a drug test certification before their admission process is complete.
He said the new rule is being put in place because the School is interested in knowing students drug status in order to help them and ensure they are free from possible drug abuse.
Prof Na’Allah, who disclosed this new requirement at the 27th Pre Convocation briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, said the university authorities are collaborating with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to assist students already involved in drug abuse; rehabilitate them and ensure they do not become nuisance in the society after graduation.
On the upcoming convocation, he said about 7900 students comprising 100 PhDs, 326 academic Masters, 346 Professional Masters and 7,128 others would be graduating at the event holding this October.
The Vice Chancellor further disclosed that 40 students will be graduating with First Class, 474 with 2nd Class Upper, 944 with 2nd Class Lower, 174 with 3rd Class and One Pass degree.
While explaining that the University has banned Pass degree going forward, Prof Na’Allah said the University will also confer Honorary Doctorate Degree of Letters on Prof Toyin Falola of University of Texas, Houston for his role in the development and growth of UniAbuja and other African universities at large.
He also said the university has developed into a global institution that offers different languages, such as French, Japanese and Portuguese among others.
On efforts being made to bring in full, some of the foreign languages as degrees programmes, the Vice Chancellor said the varsity has made it compulsory for every student to study and pass a foreign language before graduation.
He stated the University is making huge efforts at achieving its mandate, adding that resources are being mobilised through fund raising from alumni, and philanthropists while also identifying foundations willing to sponsor research, training and others value added projects in the university.
Similarly, Prof Na’Allah dropped the cheering news that the National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved 26 new academic programmes for the University, even as he stressed that the institution will now offer some of the courses commencing from 2023/2024 academic session.
He listed the courses as Nursing, Pharmacy, Tourism and hospitality, Agric engineering, Media and Communication studies among others.
