Director, MacArthur Foundation Africa, Dr Kole Shettima, on Wednesday said it had supported Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria with over $15, 538, 896 to enhance learning and research.
The director made this known while presenting ABU’s Diamond Jubilee Public Lecture titled, “The Challenges of Quality Higher Education in Africa”.
Shettima said the foundation was very excited about its interventions at ABU Zaria, adding that part of its support to the institution include installation of fibre optics.
He added that it also included linking of the ABU Teaching Hospital, Shika to the University’s Samaru and Kongo campuses.
“The foundation also supported 67 Ph.d and 87 masters’ students among other interventions.
“I appeal to the government and other key stakeholders to increase funding and transparency in the higher education sector in Nigeria.
“The transparency and accountability component of our support is to ensure efficiency in service delivery in the sector, and stem the ‘Japa Syndrome’,” he said.
Shettima urged the alumni of ABU to support their alma-mater to augment government efforts to salvage the institution from its numerous challenges.
Earlier, Prof. Kabiru Bala, the Vice-Chancellor of ABU, acknowledged the long-term relationship between the Foundation and ABU.
Bala stressed that beside TETFund, no individual, local or international organisation had supported the University like MacArthur Foundation.
“The university community remains indebted to the director of the foundation for its support in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure, digitisation and automation of libraries and establishment of some centres.
“The centres established include the Centre for Development Communication; Rural Finance; Veterinary Public Health and Reproductive Health among others,” the vice-chancellor said.
He noted that ABU was established in 1962 and the Diamond Jubilee Celebration ought to have been celebrated in Oct/Nov. 2022, but the industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) made it impossible until now.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Munnir Ja’afaru, urged government to prioritise funding of tertiary education in Nigeria, adding that education was the bedrock of the nation’s development.
He said that it was a collective responsibility to ensure that these tertiary institutions had the necessary resources to flourish.
Ja’afaru urged the alumni of ABU to rally together and aid the institution as ABU had become a national asset that must be protected from potential collapse. (NAN)