By John Ikani
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, has disclosed that the institution will begin exploration of mineral deposits on its campus, in the near future, with a view to boosting the nation’s economy and Gross Domestic Product.
Na’Allah made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking at a symposium organised by the university’s Institute for Legislative Studies, with the theme: “Legislative intervention in Nigeria’s mining sector for sustainable revenue generation.”
According to him, exploration will commence as soon as the institution’s Geology and Mining Department, which is already underway, was established and all processes with the government had been finalized.
What the VC is saying
“The exploration is in tandem with Nigeria’s goals of diversifying the economy and increasing the Nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Sometimes ago, we had a Chinese Company that obtained a license to mine on our campus and this is a university in which we have our development plans and strategies already.
“And all we are trying to do is to mobilize for the development of a department of Geology, which has already been approved by the Senate, to be called Geology and Mining Department.
“We have our strategies on how we want to collaborate with industry, we are intensifying that effort and we hope that in no distance future, we will have this department, with all the strategies.
“We want to make sure we help the nation’s development through mining on our campus. But it has to be controlled by us.
“We intend to have collaborations with private companies, with industries; that is our intention.”
University of Abuja at a glance
The University of Abuja is a tertiary institution in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. It was established on January 1, 1988 (under Decree No. 110 of 1992 as amended) as a dual-mode university with the mandate to run conventional and distance learning programmes.
The university runs regular degree, diploma, and postgraduate programmes. Due to its location in the Federal Capital Territory, it has a Centre for Distance Learning School which provides university education to those who cannot acquire such education through the regular university system and those interested in acquiring new knowledge and specialised skills.
