BREAKING: ABU will not resume academic activities Monday – Official
NEWS DIGEST – The management of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria has disclosed reasons it will not resume academic activities, despite an earlier announcement to reopen the institution on January 25, 2021
Recall that the university had fixed Monday, January 25, 2021 as the date for the reopening of the institution for the resumption of academic activities.
Following a growing tension among students and parents, the university, in a statement on Sunday by its Director of Public Affairs, Auwalu Umar, said the management was awaiting approval from Kaduna State government for reopening.
According to the statement, the state government had sent a verification team to the university on Wednesday, January 202, 2021 to specifically assess the institution’s compliance with COVID-19 preventive protocols.
“The University has indeed enjoyed the tremendous cooperation of the team during the assessment tour,” the statement noted.
Mr Umar, therefore, assured all students, parents and other stakeholders that whatever decision communicated to the institution will be conveyed immediately.
Meanwhile, in an earlier statement, the university said the 2019/2020 academic session would be completed based on the adjusted calendar as approved by the Senate.
The university added that the reopening would be on a gradual and phased basis.
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In the first phase, according to the statement, only final/graduating students, 100, 200 levels students and all clinical medical students will resume on January 25, while all post-graduate students will hold lectures virtually.
In the second phase of reopening, the university said all non-graduating students – 300 levels in the case of the 4-year course, 400 levels in the case of the 5-year course, and 500 levels in the case of 6-year course – will resume.
The statement, however, noted that the reopening is subject to further directives by the Federal and State governments.
The university said: “The decision to reopen the University followed the suspension of ASUU strike, and the directive by National Universities Commission (NUC) based on the advisory/clearance by the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 that Universities could reopen as from 18th January, 2021 under strict observance of COVID-19 protocols.”
“It should be noted that all non-pharmaceutical COVID-19 protocols would be strictly observed anywhere on campus and every student must submit online undertaking to abide by all the COVID-19 protocols both within and outside the Campus. Students who failed to complete and sumit the form online will not be able to print their exams card.
“In addition, the University Management would, within the limits of its resources, support the University Health Service (UHS) with the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and a Holding Bay to ensure safe handling of any suspected cases.
“Equally, Management would take all necessary actions to strengthen the security architecture of the University and assure the University community of adequate safety and security.”
