By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
The Vice-Chancellor Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Prof. Kabir Bala, has officially reopened the Administrative Block of the Division of Agricultural Colleges (DAC) after rehabilitation of the entire building.
A statement issued by the Public Affairs Directorate of the University said, the building was closed for all administrative activities in 2016, following the discovery of massive structural defects in it only nine years after its commissioning in 2007.
A technical committee chaired by Prof. S.P. Ejeh of Department of Civil Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University raised by DAC’s Board of Governors recommended that the edifice be rehabilitated instead of being demolished as suggested by a committee earlier set up to proffer solution.
The rehabilitation work started in November, 2021 after the recommendation of the Prof. Ejeh-led committee; and it was rounded-off in June, 2022.
Reopening the building at a brief but colourful ceremony at Division of Agricultural Colleges, Samaru, Zaria, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala, said the Prof. Ejeh-led technical committee had really demonstrated capacity in monitoring the project.
The Vice-Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Ahmed Doko Ibrahim said the successful completion of the project was a clear demonstration of what some of the committee members teach in the classroom.
Prof. Bala, therefore, thanked the committee and the Director, Division of Agricultural Colleges (DAC), Prof. Musa Abdullahi Mahadi, for ensuring the success of the project, and expressed the hope that the building would be put into good use.
The Director, Division of Agricultural Colleges, Prof. Musa Abdullahi Mahadi, had earlier given a historical perspective of the whole project, saying that DAC’s Board of Governors approved the total rehabilitation of the building.
The Director, who expressed gratitude to the Board for the decision to rehabilitate the place, and the Vice-Chancellor in particular for his untiring support to the Division, assured that the facility would stand the test of time.
The technical committee led by Prof S P Ejeh of Department of Civil Engineering that supervised the project has the following members: Prof A D Abdulaziz Department of Building; and Prof M M Garba, Department of Building.
Others are Dr. Muhammad Aminu Sambo, Physical Planning and Municipal Services (PP&MS); Arc Suleiman Mohammed, DAC Projects Office; QS Ibrahim Alh Mohammed, DAC Projects Office; and Arc Olalekan Ajayi, Physical Planning and Municipal Services (PP&MS).
Highpoint of the occasion was the tour of the rehabilitated building shortly after it was reopened by the Vice-Chancellor.
A number of principal officers of the University were present at the occasion; and they included the Registrar, Malam Rabiu Samaila; the Deputy Bursar, Finance, Malam Garba Shehu; and the Ag. University Librarian, Malam Abdulhamid L. Gambo.
Other personalities that graced the event were Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Mahmud Muktar; Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Chairman Agric/Vet Complex, Prof. Kabir Junaid; Director, National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Prof. Mohammed Abdullahi Kolo; and Ag. Chief Internal Auditor, Hajiya Fatima Ibrahim.
They also included Director, Public Affairs Directorate, Malam Auwalu Umar; Ag. Chief Security Officer of the University, Malam Ashir T. Zango; Deputy Director, DAC, Dr. Abdullahi Namakka; and Samaru Divisional Police Officer, I.M. Abdullahi.
