|
 The
history of the University of Abuja dates back to 1976, when the National
Universities Commission conceived the idea of an Open University system for
Nigeria. The purpose was to provide an avenue for the ever-growing number of
applicants to the existing universities, who could not be accommodated
because of limited facilities. The programmes operated by these universities
were considered inadequate to meet the needs of Nigerians who could not
afford to leave their paid jobs to embark on a full-time university
education. To meet these needs and in realization of the vital role which a
comprehensively planned distance education system could play in a country
like Nigeria, the Federal Government was advised to establish, as soon as
possible, a separate and distinct open university institution, to be
organized nationwide on a systematic and standardized basis.
NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY
In 1977 therefore, the Federal Government decided to “make life-long
education the basis for the nation’s educational policy”. This decision was
clearly stated in the National Policy on Education published by the Federal
Government in 1977 and revised in 1981. The philosophy of education was
designed to ensure that “at any stage of the educational process after
primary education, an individual will be able to choose between continuing
his full-time studies, combining work with study, or embarking on full-time
employment without excluding the prospect of resuming studies later on”. It
was therefore obvious that the Federal Government had resolved to enable
those who can benefit from higher education to be given access to it, either
“through universities or correspondence courses, or open universities, or
part-time and work study programmes”. This idea must have been strengthened
by the fact that even before any university was established in Nigeria, some
notable Nigerians obtained external degrees of the University of London
after taking overseas correspondence courses and studying on a part-time
basis.
Although the idea of an open university was conceived during the military
era, it was the civilian administration of the second Republic that got it
off the ground. Thus, the National Open University of Nigeria was set up by
a National Assembly Act on 22nd July 1983. Unfortunately, the
life span of the University was cut short by the intervention of the
military, which occurred in December 1983 and that administration decided to
suspend the activities of the University in February 1984 and finally closed
it down in May 1984.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA
On 19th May 1987, the National Universities Commission (NUC)
formally inaugurated a Planning Committee on the proposed University of
Abuja.
Based on the recommendations of the Planning Committee, the University of
Abuja was established on 1st January 1988. While the University
came into existence in 1988, its statutes, Decree No. 106 as amended, was
signed into law in 1992 giving the University its operating legal
instrument. One of the provisions of the law States that the University
should “undertake as part of its academic programmes distance learning and
part-time courses in various disciplines to cater for the interest of the
working class or those who could not benefit directly in full-time
university education”. Obviously, by this provision, the functions of the
defunct National Open University devolved on the newly established
conventional University of Abuja, which was definitely a dual mode
university, comprising the conventional system and the distance learning
system. Academic work began in the University in 1990 with the matriculation
of the pioneers students.
LOCATION
OF THE UNIVERSITY
The location of the University at Abuja, the
Federal capital city of Nigeria, is in line with developments in most parts
of the world. Universities have academic and cultural roles to play in a
society and have become sine qua non for the greatness of a city. The
University was allocated a large, well-situated piece of land covering about
11,824 hectares along the Abuja-Lokoja road by the authorities of the
Federal Capital Territory. Presently, the University operates from a
temporary site called "Mini Campus" located in Phase II, Gwagwalada
about 55 kilometers South-West axis of Abuja. The Mini Campus has been
described as physically overdeveloped by the National Universities
Commission, hence the need to commence the development of the University's
permanent site.
Being located in the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory, the University’s
climate is marked by a dry season from November to March, and a wet season
from April to October. Temperatures range from 20oc to 36oc
with rainfall between 1400mm and 16000mm.
The current review of the draft academic brief of the University of Abuja
for the period 2004/2005 to 2013/2014 is predicated on the plan of the
University to expand its academic disciplines and programmes, which has
further made it compelling that development of the permanent site is given
priority. This is the commitment of the University and its administration,
which is being pursued vigorously and dedicatedly. Already, development of
physical facilities has commenced at the permanent site, which include
hostels. All new academic disciplines will be established at the permanent
site. |
