The Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, has tasked alumni, stakeholders, friends and members of the university community to donate to the N50 billion endowment funds to be launched during the forthcoming Golden Jubilee celebration of the institution.
A statement issued yesterday in Zaria by the Media Adviser to the Vice Chancellor, Mallam Waziri Isa Gwantu, said Mustapha who briefed congregation members of the university on the level of preparation for the event slated for November 23-24, 2012, appealed to them to see the anniversary as a collective responsibility and not that of the VC or the management. He said the success or failure of the historic event would be shared by all the stakeholders of the university.
Mustapha clarified that launch of the endowment fund would be one of the central events of the celebration, which is aimed at generating funds to address the key needs of the institution that include commencement of work on the school’s site II to decongest the Samaru site I of the campus.
“We are determined to open new sites, not far from the Main Campus, in line with our future development plan and coupled with the lack of available space for expansion at the present site” the Vice Chancellor informed the congregation.
He however revealed that the Acting Chairman and Pro-Chancellor of the University, Architect Muhammed Dewu, had mobilised a consortium of architectural/building firms owned by ABU alumni to produce master plan for the university as well as a plan for the new site II.
He said the consortium will also produce proto-type designs for faculties of science and architecture, school of business studies, student’s hostels and recreational facilities to be sited at the new site II across the University Dam.
Professor Mustapha, who commended the in-house unions of ABU for their joint moral support and cash contributions towards the success of the event, revealed that all members of the university management have contributed 20 per cent of their gross salary towards the fund raising drive.