By Ahmed Abubakar - Department Of Mass Communication, University Of Maiduguri

University of Maiduguri remains the
most sought after among both
public and private Universities in the
north eastern part of the country in spite
of the dreaded boko haram onslaughts
that have been bedeviling the region.

The institution was created in 1975
alongside six other conventional
federal universities by the Yakubu
Gowon led military government for the
need to boost tertiary education in the
country.
These Universities include:
University of Port Harcourt, University
of Calabar, University of Ilorin,
Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto,
Bayero University, Kano and University of
Jos, which are often
described the second generation
universities.

University of Maiduguri is one of
those Federal universities that
admit high number of students
across the country which is a clear
reason it attracts high number of
applicants. It is also among the top ten
universities in Nigeria and forth in
the north on the 2016
statistics of University standard
released by the National
Universities Commission, (NUC).

Being the first, as well as first
conventional university in the north
east region, has paved the way for
academic excellence locally and
internationally. Most if not all north
easterners and Nigerians at
large cherish the university by always
yearning to have it their first
choice of tertiary education even
though there are other universities
within the region such as Federal
University of technology, Yola,
Abubakar Tarawa Balewa university,
Bauchi and many others.

The university is large with outstanding
man power, structure and variety of courses of
study.

It encompasses twelve
faculties such as faculty of Medicine,
Agriculture, Veterinary, Education, Sciences,
Social Sciences, Management Sciences,
Law, Arts, Engineering, Pharmacy and Dental
Surgery. These faculties house over seventy departments.
This, is no doubt, one of the leading factors
that led to the university’s recognition because the
university opens door for various
disciplines of study in the region unlike the none
convectional universities of
technology and agriculture where
fields of study are limited.

The institution therefore receives
applicants from the 36 states of the
federation and the Federal capital
territory.

One interesting story about university
of Maiduguri is that it is one
of the few universities that admits
students based
on merit, regardless of where an
applicant comes from, which,
according to interviews conducted
with some students gives the university fame
and recognition across the country
and beyond. the university gives admission
chances to everyone; is the only university
In the north that admits large number of
southernes irrespective of who one is.

The twelve faculties of the university
have produced and still
producing numerous professionals
who have distinguished themselves
in doing wonderful jobs in their fields.

It is also noticed that graduates of three
departments of the university are
celebrated wherever they go in the country.
Such departments are: Law, Mass
Communication and Medicine.

There are a quite number of
prominent personalities who
graduated from the institution like the
former and serving Abia State
Governors, Dr. Urji Uzo Kalu and
Victor Ekpaezu, from political science
and biochemistry departments.
Also, is the serving Governor of Niger
State, Abubakar Sani Bello, who
studied economics, while ex- minister
of the federal capital territory
during Jonathan’s
administration, Bala Mohammad, also
graduated from the university’s
English department. Current Emir of
Gombe, Abubakar Shehu Abubakar, is
also a graduate of public
administration from the institution.

There are much more personalities who
are today alumni members of
university of Maiduguri. The performances
Of such personalities in various human
endeavours can also serve as yardstick for
the University’s academic excellence.

Even though boko haram insurgency
has played a vital role in chasing
away students and lecturers from the
institution especially from
2009-2013 and 2014, that did not
bring the university to a standstill; people
still apply for study.

The 2016/2017 admission session
appeared to be unique because the
number of applicants rose to 46,000
unlike before when insurgency was
at the peak, the figure was around 3000
applicants. Out of the 46, 000, more
than 7,000 students were admitted, a
number only university of Ilorin
in the north can admit.

The bomb blasts are still being
experienced from suicide bombers
here and there within
Maiduguri metropolis, even Thursday
night, bombs blasted killing the insurgents
and civilian JTF when the present
administration claims to have defeated
the insurgents after clearing of Sambisa
forest, which is one of the insurgents’
hidouts.
http://leadership.ng/news/572482/bomb-blast-why-unimaid-still-most-sought-after-despite-boko-haram-insurgency

Delusion?