Dean shares challenges with acting VC as Faculty of Arts holds orientation for freshers

By: Quadri Yahya

The Faculty of Arts, University of Abuja, Thursday, held orientation for fresh students.

The orientation was held at the Faculty hall, with the acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Patricia Manko Lar; Dean of the Faculty, Amuche Madu; and other senior staff in attendance.

The Dean took the opportunity to share some challenges within the faculty comprising the departments of Arabic, Christian Religion Studies, English & Literary Studies, History & Diplomatic Studies, Islamic Religion Studies, Linguistics & African Languages, Philosophy, and Theatre Arts.

She noted that the Faculty of Arts is the first faculty to move to the permanent site, yet “today we (the Faculty of Arts) are the last.”

Addressing the acting VC further, the Dean noted that with eight programmes in the faculty, the classrooms allocated are insufficient for students.

She added that the “environment is invested with reptiles. Sometimes students and lecturers kill reptiles in their classrooms and offices. We need constant fumigation around the environment.”

The Dean also stated the issue of insecurity in the faculty, noting that there is a need for more security personnel.

In her address, the acting VC assured the students that the issues raised by the Dean will be attended to to the best of capability. 

“Your challenges have been enumerated by the Dean. Six months are not going to be enough. But the ones I will do I will do. God help me”, she said.

ACW-UA reporter noted that the language laboratory in the faculty is mostly under lock and in “disrepair”. The acting VC also expressed unhappiness on the state of the lab, assuring that “we'd kick start the repair.”

She further reminded the students of their  “primary assignment, (which) is to learn… Stay focused on your studies and aim to excel in your endeavour.”

Acting VC added: “The potential that we have here to bring change not just for our school, and country but to the continent.”

Lecturers, students share challenges 

The acting VC magnanimously allowed lecturers as well as students to share challenges hindering their lecturing and learning. 

Four of the lecturers spoke on the issue of promotion, welfare and need for prayer for the acting VC. 

On the other hand, the students raised concerned on the perenial issues of transportation hurdle, hostel accommodation shortage, classroom shortage, and General Studies result.