MOAUM Secures N2bn TETFund Intervention for New Faculty of Architecture, Plans 1,600-Bed Hostel – VC Alabar

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The Vice Chancellor of Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM), Prof. Timothy Alabar, has disclosed that the university secured a N2 billion Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) special intervention for the construction of a new Faculty of Architecture within his first six months in office.

Alabar disclosed this on Monday in Makurdi while briefing journalists on the achievements of his administration since he assumed office as the institution’s eighth Vice-Chancellor on February 10, 2026.

He said the contract for the Faculty of Architecture project had already been awarded, describing the intervention as a major step towards addressing the university’s infrastructural deficit and improving teaching and learning.

According to him, the project, when completed, would provide improved learning spaces and strengthen the university’s capacity to expand and develop architectural education.

The Vice-Chancellor said his administration’s policies and programmes were anchored on three major pillars including students’ welfare, staff welfare and infrastructure; aimed at creating an environment conducive to teaching, learning, research and personal development.

Giving an update on academic activities, Alabar said 9,541 students were matriculated into various undergraduate programmes for the 2025/2026 academic session, while the postgraduate admission exercise for the same session was successfully conducted.

He added that the Postgraduate School held its orientation programme and 14th Lecture Series on April 24, 2026, while the university successfully conducted its first-semester examinations for undergraduate programmes.

The VC further disclosed that all outstanding examination results for the 2024/2025 academic session had been cleared and approved by the University Senate.

On accreditation, Alabar said seven academic programmes underwent accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC), with five receiving full accreditation and two securing interim accreditation.

The programmes that received full accreditation, he said, were Statistics, Medical Laboratory Science, Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, while Radiography and Radiation Science and Political Science received interim accreditation.

He also disclosed that the university inducted its first set of 57 Bachelor of Nursing graduates into the nursing profession in May, while the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria inducted the institution’s 12th set of medical doctors in June.

On staff welfare, the Vice-Chancellor said the university had released the results of the 2025 promotion exercise involving 389 staff, comprising 313 non-teaching and 76 academic staff.

He said professorial assessments had also commenced to facilitate career progression and uphold academic standards.

According to him, the university had approved the employment of its first-class graduates, subject to screening, as part of efforts to retain outstanding talents and encourage academic excellence among students.

Alabar added that his administration had paid five months’ pension arrears to newly boarded retirees and four months to already boarded pensioners.
He said outstanding approved sundry allowances owed deserving staff had also been settled.

On infrastructure and accommodation, the Vice-Chancellor said his administration had reactivated the university-wide water reticulation system and commenced the settlement of its outstanding electricity debt to the Jos Electricity Distribution Company.

He said the university had also rehabilitated several critical facilities, including lecture theatres, hostels, the library and staff offices.

He announced that construction of a 1,600-bed-space students’ hostel had commenced under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

According to him, the project is expected to significantly reduce the accommodation challenges confronting students of the university.

On security, Alabar said the university had strengthened its security architecture through the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at strategic locations.

He added that six illegal routes allegedly used by criminal elements to steal university property had been blocked, while approval had been given for the construction of two additional security towers along the river bank.

Alabar further disclosed that the university secured TETFund approval for 41 academic and non-teaching staff to present research papers at conferences within and outside Nigeria, valued at N94.84 million.

He said the institution also secured a N9.54 million National Research Fund intervention.

The Vice-Chancellor further announced the establishment of a Centre for Research Innovation and Grant Management and the university’s participation in the UNDP-supported UNIPOD innovation initiative.

He said the initiative was expected to provide facilities for research, creativity, prototyping, entrepreneurship and technology development.

Despite the achievements, Alabar acknowledged that the university continued to face challenges, including inadequate student accommodation, unreliable electricity supply, pressure on medical services, financial difficulties among students, staff welfare obligations, ageing infrastructure and the need to improve ICT facilities.

He said the administration would continue to explore funding opportunities from the government, TETFund, internally generated revenue, public-private partnerships, alumni, development partners, grants and corporate sponsorships.

According to him, the approach would enable the university to address its immediate challenges while sustaining its development and improving the quality of education delivered by the institution.