Varsity VC Lists Challenges Facing Institution

The vice chancellor of the Confluence University of Science and Technology, (CUSTECH), Osara Engr. Prof. Abdulrahman Asipita, has identified inadequate hostel accommodation and lack of staff quarters as major challenges facing the five years old university,

The VC who stated this yesterday at the conference room of the Senate building during the pre- convocation press briefing as part of activities for the combined maiden convocation of the institution, noted that the student population has grown far beyond their initial projections.

He maintained that at present, only about 15% of the students can be accommodated on campus, adding that the remaining majority rely on nearby communities for lodging, which sometimes exposes them to transportation and security challenges.

“Expanding hostel capacity is one of our top infrastructural priorities, and we are exploring Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models to fast-track the construction of additional hostels,” he said.

Speaking further he noted that other pressing challenges currently facing the university is land encroachment, saying “at establishment, CUSTECH was allocated 400 hectares of land by the State Government.

“At a crucial time, the Government provided funds to fence 100 hectares, for which we remain deeply grateful. However, soon after the fenced area was completed, land grabbers began encroaching on the remaining 300 hectares, falsely claiming that the University had fenced portions of their land.”

According to him the remaining 300 hectares were deliberately reserved for critical future projects, including the University Farm, the Agricultural Research Centre, and areas designated for the University’s future expansion.

He maintained that the encroachment on this land, therefore, poses a direct threat to the long-term vision and to the fulfilment of their academic mandate, particularly in agricultural and environmental research.

He noted that the University has had to demolish several illegal structures, saying that in the process, management and staff have faced threats and harassment from encroachers who have even attempted to disrupt academic activities on the campus

He listed other challenges faced by staff and students of the institution to include non-availability of banks on campus, lack of Staff Quarters and the need for a Pedestrian Bridge whitin the university community.

The VC announced that 266 students will be taking part in the combined maiden convocation, comprising of 132 students from the pioneer set (2023/2024), and 134 from the second set (2024/2025).