Former Nigerian Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has pledged support for increased hostel accommodation at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBUL), Lapai.
The former president committed when the university’s management, led by Vice Chancellor Professor Mohammed Hadi Sulaiman, paid him a courtesy visit at his Uphill residence in Minna, Niger State.
General Babangida appreciated the visit and expressed hope that the problem of inadequate student accommodation would soon be resolved.
“We will do our best to assist the university,” the elder statesman assured, adding that he hoped the issue of hostel shortage would soon be a thing of the past.
In his remarks, Professor Sulaiman thanked General Babangida for his continued support to the university and the country at large. He appealed for further assistance, noting the acute shortage of hostel facilities at the institution.
The Vice Chancellor disclosed that the university was expecting a Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) intervention of ₦3.8 billion for the construction of new hostels—each with 300 rooms for male and female students respectively.
He also briefed the former president on recent developments that led to the temporary closure of the university, stressing that accommodation remains a critical challenge. Out of over 19,000 students, more than 17,000 currently reside off campus, he revealed.
The university management team included Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Professor Muhammad Aliyu Bello; Registrar, Idris Saleh Kusherki; University Librarian, Dr. Abubakar N. Usman; Bursar, Muhammad Alfa Daniyan; and Deputy Registrar (Information), Baba Akote.
Prayers were offered for the continued good health of General Babangida, the growth of the university, and peace in Niger State and Nigeria at large.
