The Acting Vice Chancellor of AbdulRasaq Abubakar Toyin University (AATU), Ganmo, Professor Abdulrauf Ambali, has unveiled the young institution’s vision to redefine higher education in Nigeria by combining affordability, quality, and character-based learning.
Speaking at the university’s One-Day Open House, which drew parents, guardians, secondary school students, community leaders, and traditional rulers, Professor Ambali described the event as “a significant moment in the university’s journey.”
“We are not only opening our doors physically but also opening our hearts and our vision. AATU was not established merely to be another name among private universities in Nigeria. We were established to serve, to give back, and to provide access to quality higher education that is not driven by profit margins, but by purpose,” he said.
Founded as a private, not-for-profit institution, AATU is anchored on three core pillars: academic excellence, character building, and global citizenship. Professor Ambali explained that these values would shape graduates into problem-solvers, innovators, and leaders of integrity.
He revealed that the university has set its tuition fee at ₦250,000 per session, making it one of the most affordable private institutions in Nigeria, while also mandating entrepreneurship training for all students. The curriculum, he noted, blends academic study with vocational and entrepreneurial skills to ensure graduates leave with both degrees and practical competencies.
Reassuring parents, Ambali stressed that lecturers were carefully selected, highly qualified, and passionate about mentorship, while the university’s mission emphasises teaching excellence, digital innovation, research promotion, and strong community engagement.
In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, highlighted that AATU was established to empower young Nigerians to become global citizens.
“We expect our students and graduates to have the world at their fingertips. Our aim is to ensure that secondary school leavers are not roaming the streets, but are given affordable and quality education,” he said.
Professor Na’Allah, who previously served as the pioneer Vice Chancellor of Kwara State University (KWASU) and later as Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, added that all AATU programmes are accredited, with scholarships available to support both indigent and brilliant students.
Professor Moshood Zakariyah, the university’s Director of Academic and Institutional Research, disclosed that AATU commenced operations with three faculties and 14 departments, fully approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC). He announced that Nursing and Medical Laboratory Sciences would soon be introduced.
Zakariyah also outlined six categories of scholarships offered by the institution: Merit-based, Host Community, Special Needs, Needs-based, General Community-based, and Endowment-based. He stressed that the university operates with 100% ICT compliance.
The Open House, held at the university’s auditorium, featured tours of facilities, interactive sessions with management, and presentations that showcased AATU’s vision of combining academic rigour with moral grounding to raise the next generation of innovators and leaders.