American University of Nigeria (AUN) celebrated its Founders Day alongside its 20th Anniversary on November 30, 2024, gathering dignitaries, including government officials, representatives from various institutions and organizations, industry leaders, security agents, and traditional rulers at the four-thousand-capacity Commencement Hall on its campus.
The Founders Day event is an annual observance dedicated to honoring the birth of AUN’s Founder, His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. It provides an opportunity for reflection, a review of progress, and a celebration of the vision and initiatives that led to establishing AUN as a development-focused university.
This year’s event showcased a successful celebration, with recognitions and awards to the university’s top achievers. The Honor Society student members, who earned a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.5 or higher on a 4-point scale, were among those honored. Additionally, outstanding staff members were recognized for their exceptional performance and teamwork, and the top three finalists in the American University of Nigeria-Atiku Institute of Development (AUN-AID) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Quiz competition for secondary schools in Adamawa State were celebrated.
In his remarks, Founder Atiku Abubakar expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the university’s stakeholders, faculty, staff, and students. He specifically recognized the contributions of the late Prof. Robert Pastor, a close friend during the university’s establishment, as well as the past and present Board of Trustee (BoT) members, particularly the late Ahmad Joda.
“On this special occasion, I would like to honor the visionary leadership of our late pioneer Chair of the AUN Board, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, for his remarkable contributions and the indelible marks he made,” Abubakar stated. “I also extend our profound gratitude to the American University, Washington DC, and specifically, to my co-visionary friend, late Prof. Robert Pastor, along with our past Board members, for their dedication and insightful leadership.”
The Founder emphasized AUN’s need to evolve as a non-profit institution in an increasingly competitive landscape of private universities. He outlined the importance of diversifying funding sources to maintain the university’s vibrancy, sustainability, and relevance. Abubakar urged the University’s Board, Governing Council, and management to explore multiple funding avenues, including alumni engagement initiatives, corporate partnerships, research grants, and fundraising events.
He highlighted the potential of establishing a new School of Agriculture aimed at training students in modern farming practices to boost agricultural production and alleviate hunger in Nigeria while also generating income for the university.
Reported by John Abah