Admission not for sale, but on merit, transparency- UniAbuja VC
By Uche Bibilari
Yakubu Gowon University, (formally University of Abuja), has advised prospective candidates seeking admission to beware of racketeers as the institution only admits candidates based on merit and transparency.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Patricia Lar, who said this at the university’s Maiden Hybrid Pre-Admission Sensitisation for 2025/2026 Post-UTME candidates in Abuja, noted that admission into the school was not for sale.
Represented by the Director, Academic Planning, Prof. Wesley Nafanda, Lar said that the hybrid sensitisation programme was designed to guide students who have chosen University of Abuja as their first choice through the admission process.
She said that the event provided unique opportunity to interact directly with the Deans and others, ask basic questions about the admission process, understand common key steps and avoid common pitfalls.
“What the university is doing is to clarify process of entering into the university to guide prospective students and also address all challenges and questions they will have.
“We want to assure the public that our process of admission is very transparent, based on merit and excellence.
“We are also doing this to enlighten parents and prospective students so that they will understand and do the right thing, so that they will not fall into the wrong hands; fraudsters who will deceive them and collect their money,” she said.
The acting V-C said that the university do not collect money for admission from anyone, adding that anybody that requested for money from them for admission was a liar.
Lar assured parents and prospective students that any student that meets the criteria in the course he or she applied for would gain admission based on merit.
Similarly, the Director, Development Office, Prof. Lanre Oladeiton, said that the sensitisation programme was borne out of the observation that quite a number of people fall victim to fake admission.
Oladeiton said that it had been observed overtime that some candidates were not offered admission by JAMB but somehow managed to have the university admission, adding that some even paid money.
“So, for that, the vice chancellor has set up a committee to look into the illegalities and they realised that misconception and possibly lack of awareness is responsible for why students fall victim to admission racketeers.
“We expect that parents will realise that we have zero tolerance to racketeering and coming in through the back door to gain admission.
“We want everyone to apply and we will follow strictly the procedure laid down for admission process, merit or catchment,” he said.
He said that the university had its official communication channels where prospective students could get the right information from and not any random person.
On her part, Ms Safiya Ismail, Member, Central Admission Committee, while highlighting key components that prospective students must understand in the admission process, said that they must choose UniAbuja as their first choice.
Ismail said that they must have sat and passed the University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), adding that they must have obtained five credits including Maths and English in their O-level exam in not more than two sittings.
According to her, the university do not sell direct entry form as that can only be done through JAMB.
“We are attending to only the candidates that selected the university as their first choice. O-Level in WAEC, NECO and NABTEB are the only O-Level acceptable by the university.
“If you have a pass in either Maths or English, we do not admit with it and we do not accept awaiting result. Even if you score 400 in JAMB but have pass in either maths or english we will not admit you.
“For you to be eligible, you must upload your O-Level in the JAMB portal, pick your best result if you are using two results.
“If you are not up to 16 years by September 2025, you will not be given admission, except for exceptional students which have its own criteria,” she said.
She called on prospective students to know their subjects combinations and also cultivate the habit of checking their portal regularly.
The Dean, Student Affairs, Dr Sunday Idoko, advised students never to pay money into any regular account, adding that those asking for money from students were scammers.
Idoko said that all payments should be done through the university portal.
Dr Hassan Makolo, Head of Legal Units/CSO, called on parents and prospective students not to be desperate in seeking for admission.
Makolo advised students not to seek for admission through the backdoor, adding that if the university found out, the student would be sent packing.
“Even after graduation if its detected that you came into the university through a scandalous means, your certificate will be withdrawn.
“Do not manipulate your O-Level result it will be detected. Parents allow these children to come in properly and legally,” he advised.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deans in the various faculties also outlined the criteria and requirements needed for gaining admission into various faculties in the university. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Augusta Uchediunor/Ese E. Ekama–Williams
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