Uniabuja seeks NEPZA's support to form special economic zone

The University of Abuja on Monday sought the support of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) for the establishment of a special economic zone in the institution.

The Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na' Allah, sought support when he visited the Managing Director and Chief Executive of NEPZA, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, in Abuja.

Allah said that the establishment of a special economic zone in the institution would fast-track industrialization, create jobs, and drive the economic development of the university as well as promote tourism.

"We at the University of Abuja are determined to work with industry, and we have been working in synergy with the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).

"And now we are seeking the support of NEPZA because if we have this support with us, there is no doubt that some of the ambitions that we have will be given wings to fly."

"You can imagine us having an economic free zone at the university."

"On campus, innovation is every day, and we want to unleash this innovation."

"And the best way to do it is to have this free zone work with the private industry," he said.

While expressing hope to establish the special economic zone as soon as possible, Na' Allah said that it would focus on exploring the potential in agriculture, mining, tourism, and Nollywood, among others.

According to him, "we are the best site you can have in this country; we are in the capital of Nigeria; we are just opposite the airport; we have the best road network; it is 25 minutes' drive to the city center."

"Everybody would come from any part of the world, they just land and they are here. Almost every nation is represented in Abuja. I call it destiny of location".

Similarly, the former President of ACCI, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, said that the project would help the education system become sustainable.

"Sustainable in the sense of being able to raise their own funds for themselves and able to raise employable graduates and also being the centre for commercialisation of research.

"Thousands of researches are done on campus every year but very few get to the market place. Research that does not leave to the market place is a worthless one.

"All over the world universities look for opportunities to turn their efforts into value and create employable graduates.

"If NEPZA supports this project, it has laid the foundation to address the crisis in education in Nigeria,'' Kayode said.

Responding, Adesugba emphasised the need for a business plan that would drive the process and guarantee its success.

According to him, "most critical thing for us is to ensure that we have the place as a free zone and get it to first class that can be compared to any other in the world.

"We are going to use people within the university to develop something that is going to be a master free zone".

Adesugba added that the special economic zone would provide the capacity needed to turn the natural resources in the university into wealth.

He said that Abuja University could become one of the richest universities in the world.

"This is because it is a size property, the size of Victoria Island, 10 minutes to airport and 25 munities to Abuja.

"It has mountains, rivers, flora and solid minerals such as gold but unless it is unleashed for the purpose of development of the university and Nigeria,'' he said.