ABU should lead in tackling out of school children menace – Rochas Okorocha
Ahmadu Bello University should lead in tackling the menace of out of school children in the North as the institution has the capacity to change the narrative.
The President, Rochas Foundation, His Excellency, Senator Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha, made the call when the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, visited him in Abuja last week.
Okorocha, former Governor of Imo State, believed that the university and his foundation could jointly collaborate to deal with the situation.
The former governor explained that of the over 20 million out of school children in Nigeria, 70 percent were from the North.
He said part of the scope of his foundation was to address the threat by targetting the orphans and children from the poor background.
Senator Okorocha stated that the foundation established three different classes with indigenous blend for wider acceptance.
The former governor listed the classes as follows: Ahmadu Bello Class, Tafawa Balewa Class and Aminu Kano Class.
He appreciated the Vice-Chancellor and members of his team immensely for the visit and declared that the foundation would collaborate with the university to improve learning, teaching, and research.
Senator Okorocha said the best way to go as a university was to embrace private-sector partnership to raise the needed financial strength for smooth operations.
He advised that the university could take advantage of its large expanse of land to engage in different agric businesses.
The former governor assured the Vice-Chancellor of his readiness to link up the university with strong financial institutions that would guide them in the area of revenue generation.
The Director-General of Rochas Foundation, Ucy Rochas, spoke briefly about the activities of the foundation.
She described the visit as timely, stressing that Ahmadu Bello University is going to be an important partner in providing quality education to the less privileged.
The Vice-Chancellor had earlier told the former governor that the university appreciated him for the passion he has for education, leading to the establishment of Rochas Foundation.
Prof Ahmed said ABU is all out to retain its position as one of the leading universities in Africa, saying that the institution is now trying to take its research products for commercialization.
He briefed the politician on the success the university recorded in organising its 45th convocation which was held on Saturday, 31st 2026.
The Vice-Chancellor was accompanied on the visit to former governor by the Director, Directorate of Advancement and International Education, Prof M I Umar-Buratai.
Others were the Director, Public Affairs Directorate, Auwalu Umar; and Assistant Director, Advancement, Dr Ahmed Zakaria.
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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria (NEWS)
Wednesday, 11th March, 2026
