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Education Minister reaffirms suspension of Uni Abuja courses

The Minister of Education, Ruqayyatu Rufai on Thursday reaffirmed the suspension of four courses in the University of Abuja until the required facilities necessary for … Continue reading Education Minister reaffirms suspension of Uni Abuja courses


The Minister of Education, Ruqayyatu Rufai

The Minister of Education, Ruqayyatu Rufai on Thursday reaffirmed the suspension of four courses in the University of Abuja until the required facilities necessary for its smooth operation is put in place.

The Minister of Education, Ruqayyatu Rufai

Mrs Rufai disclosed this at a meeting between the Federal government and representatives of the students’ union government and teachers from the University of Abuja.

The Minister had last month announced the suspension of courses in four faculties, namely; Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Engineering and Agriculture for non-accreditation, but later reversed its decision on Agriculture.

She criticised the Vice-Chancellor of the university, James Adelabu, over mismanagement leading to the academic crisis, three years after assuming office.

According to Mrs Rufai, a taskforce would be constituted to work with the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the management of the university to ensure the accreditation of the suspended courses.

Students accept government’s term

The student representatives were led by the President of University of Abuja Medical Students’ Association (UAMSA), Uchenna Anyanwu.

“After widespread consultations with our parents, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Management, University of Abuja Management and senior colleagues in the medical profession on the two options:

Firstly, that the students wait for the six months proposed by the Vice-Chancellor to provide all the necessary accreditation of the courses and secondly, those students who want transfer to other accredited medical schools put up their names. “

Mr Anyanwu said if the management of the University could put the necessary requirements in place within six months as proposed by the Vice Chancellor, the best option for the students was to wait.

He said the students were aware that the process for inter-university transfers could take some time and urged the Minister to give the Vice Chancellor the necessary support to ensure the accreditation of the courses within the time frame.

The President said if in six months the University was unable to get accreditation, “the entire medical students wish to be transferred to other accredited medical schools as consultations and negotiations would have been completed by then”.

The Vice Chancellor however, said the school would ensure that all the issues were sorted out and the necessary infrastructure put in place in three months (less than the six months) to enable the accreditation of the courses.