From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria has benefited from fifteen million dollars support of the McArthur Foundation to enhance learning and research for national development.
The African Regional Director of the foundation, Dr Kole Shettima disclosed this at the ABU’s Diamond Jubilee Public Lecture titled, `The Challenges of Quality High Education in Africa’ on Wednesday in Zaria.
Shettima said the foundation was very excited about its interventions at the university which included the installation of fibre optics and the linking of the ABU Teaching Hospital, Shika to the Samaru and Kongo campuses of the university.
The foundation also supported 67 Ph.D. and 87 masters students among other interventions.
Shettima appealed to the government and other key stakeholders to increase funding and transparency for the higher education sector in Nigeria.
According to him, the transparency and accountability component was to ensure efficiency in service delivery in the sector and stem the `Japa syndrome’.
He, therefore, advised the Alumni of the university to support their alma-Malta towards augmenting government efforts to further salvage the institution from its numerous challenges.
In his remarks, Vice Chancellor of ABU Professor Kabiru Bala acknowledged the long relationship between the foundation and the ABU stresses that besides TETFund no individual, local or international organization has supported ABU like the 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 the establishment of some centres.
