AUN Dismisses Rumour, Assures Parents Of Students’ Safety.

THE American University of Nigeria (AUN),Yola, Adamawa state has denied the rumour making the rounds, that many of the institution’s foreign academic staff members were leaving due to the security situation in the state.

According to a statement by its Assistant Vice President, Public Relations and Communications, Mr Abubakar Abba Tahir, there is also no iota of truth in the insinuation that many parents have been withdrawing their wards because due to the same reason.

Part of the statement reads: “On Saturday, May 11, more than 4,000 people attended the 5th Commencement at the American University of Nigeria (AUN). This number includes four globally distinguished diplomats and an accomplished American journalist, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, who served as Commencement Speaker. The diplomats included: US Ambassador Terrence McCulley, EU Ambassador David Macrae, Irish Ambassador Patrick Fay, and High Commissioner Joseph Habineza of Rwanda whose country has 17 scholarship students at AUN.

“If there were any security concerns in Yola, none of these VIPs (Very Important Persons) would have ventured to come. The graduation activity and the beginning of summer break naturally increased movements in and out of Yola airport. Several days later, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Adamawa and two other northeast states. It took all of Adamawa residents by surprise because we had just finished our beautiful graduation on our safe and secure campus and because the state is the safest in the north east region. Despite the emergency rule, Yola has been orderly, calm, and peaceful, before and after the hugely successful Commencement, which saw nearly 300 students graduate.

“AUN’s summer sessions have began since May 16 and a large percentage, over half of the total student enrollment as a matter of fact, has returned for summer classes. As usual, the two summer semesters are being facilitated by AUN’s globally diverse faculty drawn from the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, India, South Korea, Russia, South Africa, Canada, Kenya and more. This summer enrollment is approximately the same percentage that has attended previous summers. To date, no faculty members have stated they are not retuning because of the state of emergency. Those who are not teaching in summer have naturally gone on their normal vacations until Summer 2 or the fall 2013 semester.

“We have been in touch with some of the parents who have trusted us with their children.  It’s pertinent to mention here that the dusk-to-dawn curfew is effective in Yola, as elsewhere in the region, but does not threaten the university community or any campus learning and or extra-curricular activities. As a matter of fact, many have been coming to AUN to process admissions, having received their children’s/wards’ UTME results. No case of student withdrawal or threat of withdrawal has been recorded.

“After the declaration of the state of the emergency, AUN has hosted a fact-finding delegation from Delta State led by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Hope Eghagha.   Gladdening statistics from the Office of Admissions reveal that applications for admission into AUN for the upcoming semester have more than doubled, compared to the previous years, and we are still receiving very good applications.”