By Blessing Essien
University of Abuja has secured the accreditation of 14 of its programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
A statement signed by the Head, Information and University Relations, Dr Habib Yakoob, said ten of the academic programmes were given full accreditation while four had interim accreditation.
According to the statement, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, disclosed this in an email to the University of Abuja community, Sunday that out of the fifteen programmes billed for accreditation, fourteen scaled through.
“Just a few days ago, our University received the results of the November 2019 National Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation visit. Out of the 15 academic programs visited, it is only Computer Science that we have difficulty in, which the Academic Planning Office, is already working with the academic department concerned, to prepare an appeal for a revisit and a re-evaluation.” The Vice Chancellor revealed
The programmes that got full Accreditation include Public Administration, Arabic Studies Education, Christian Religious Studies Education and English Education.
Others include, Geography Education, Islamic Religious Studies Education, Guidance and Counselling, Law, Chemistry and Microbiology. While those with Interim accreditation are Banking and Finance, Physics Education, Educational Administration and Planning and Primary Education Studies.
The statement however said Computer Science was not accredited, assuring the University community that the institution had the necessary facilities to ensure that the course got accreditation.
The Vice Chancellor, while congratulating the university community for the good news, assured the university’s management of his determination to make the institution a world class University.
“Ladies and gentlemen, your University is a proud University and our distinguished staff and students would continue to show excellence and raise the banners of academic excellence as the No. 1 University in Nigeria”, he assured, adding that, “We are in the middle of laying a solid Internet infrastructure (fybriotics) in all our campuses. Your University is establishing computer laboratories across faculties and departments where students and staff would easily walk in when they need to use computers. Several of our classrooms are in the process of being converted into smart classrooms where learners and instructors can use cyber technology”.
The Vice Chancellor stressed that, “our University has already built, and is perfecting its Virtual classroom system which many students are currently utilizing to take some courses online in a Pilot study of the system.
The statement also disclosed that the University has now created a Rape and Sexual Harassment Reporting Platform on the Main University website, urging students to report any sexual harassment, no matter how long it has taken place. We want to ensure that we unravel the faces behind the mask of such inhuman act; adding that the report to this platform would receive prompt and spontaneous and immediate attention including maximum protection and security, and on the spot intelligence actions.
“Any student who felt she or he has been harassed, however long this has happened to her or him, can report to the University authority, and such report will go direct to the designated officer and the Vice-Chancellor, where every legitimate process would be followed to thoroughly follow up and get to the bottom of the allegation while also protecting the victim at the highest level.” the statement disclosed.