MOAUM Secures ₦2bn TETFund Intervention for Architecture Faculty, 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 institution secured a ₦2 billion special intervention from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) 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 university’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 completed project would provide improved learning spaces and enhance 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: students’ welfare, staff welfare and infrastructure. He said the pillars were designed to create an environment conducive to teaching, learning, research and personal development.
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 also successfully conducted its first-semester examinations for undergraduate programmes.
The VC 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.
He listed the programmes that received full accreditation as Statistics, Medical Laboratory Science, Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, while Radiography and Radiation Science and Political Science received interim accreditation.
Alabar further 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 maintain 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.
Alabar added that his administration had paid five months’ pension arrears to newly boarded retirees and four months to already boarded pensioners.
He also said outstanding approved sundry allowances owed deserving staff had been settled.
On infrastructure and accommodation, the Vice-Chancellor said the university-wide water reticulation system had been reactivated, while the institution had commenced the settlement of its outstanding electricity debt to the Jos Electricity Distribution Company.
He said several critical facilities, including lecture theatres, hostels, the library and staff offices, had also been rehabilitated.
Alabar 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.
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 granted for the construction of two additional security towers along the river bank.
The Vice-Chancellor 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 ₦94.84 million.
He said the institution also secured a ₦9.54 million National Research Fund intervention.
Alabar 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 still faced 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, sustain its development and improve the quality of education delivered by the institution.