The University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has introduced mandatory drug tests for prospective students seeking admission to the institution.
The announcement was made by the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Abdul-Rasheed Na’allah, during a pre-convocation briefing held on Wednesday.
According to Na’allah, all aspiring students must undergo and present their drug test results as part of the admission process. The move is aimed at addressing drug abuse among students.
Rehabilitation over expulsion
The Vice-Chancellor emphasized that students who test positive for illicit drugs will not face expulsion but will be provided with rehabilitation and support.
UniAbuja is collaborating with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to help students recover from drug abuse.
Na’allah also shared details about the upcoming convocation ceremony, where 7,128 students will be graduating. Among them are 100 PhD graduates, 326 academic master’s degree recipients, and 346 professional master’s degree recipients.
The graduating class includes 40 students with first-class honors, 474 with second-class upper division, 944 with second-class lower division, 174 with third-class honors, and one student with a pass degree.
The university has decided to discontinue the awarding of pass degrees going forward. In recognition of his contributions to the institution and other African universities, the university will also confer an honorary doctorate degree of letters on Toyin Falola from the University of Texas, Houston.
