On July 30, a total of 271 candidates sat for the American University of Nigeria (AUN) annual scholarships examination – a huge jump from last year’s numbers. Sixty seven merit-based tuition scholarships will be awarded to new students from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The North Eastern examination centre in Yola registered the highest number of candidates for the examination with 98 candidates, followed by the North Central region at Abuja with 67, and North Western centre with 45. The South Southern and South western centres in Warri and Ibadan respectively had 18 candidates each, while the South eastern centre had 28 candidates.
The AUN scholarships examinations are highly competitive and only the best can qualify for the available spaces. These lucky Nigerians will join their counterparts from South Africa, Rwanda, Cameroon and other African countries on scholarship from their respective governments or private educational foundations in their countries to study in Africa’s Development University. There are many other students enjoying scholarships from their state governments in the university which prides itself as the School for the Best and Brightest.
What has added more excitement to this year’s examinations is the introduction of law studies by AUN with effect from August this year. The first batch of law students are expected to matriculate in the Fall semester with enrollees in older programs.
These programs are Bachelor of Science in Telecoms and Wireless Technologies, Information Systems, Software Engineering and Computer Science under the School of Information Technologies and Computing; and Accounting, Business Administration, Management/Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing and a minor in Social Entrepreneurship, under the School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
The School of Arts and Sciences offers Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Multimedia Design, Petroleum Chemistry, English Literature and Language, International and Comparative Politics, Natural and Environmental Sciences and Economics, with minors in Advertising, Journalism, Writing, Mathematics, Multimedia Design, Television/Film and Statistics.
Yusuf Williams, a student of Lutheran Junior Seminary, Mbamba, near Yola, was seated inside the auditorium of the Robert Pastor e-Learning and Resource Center, AUN’s award winning digital resource hub, staring into space. He came to write the AUN Scholarship Examinations for the 2016/17 academic session.
“I am here because I want to come to AUN,” he said.
“This is a world-class university equipped with the best facilities and staff from all over the world and I will be very glad to get the scholarship.”
Yusuf is not alone in his aspiration. There were over 97 other students writing the examination on the campus, which was the North-east region’s center for the exams, held simultaneously at five other centers across the federation. Hundreds more wrote in centers in Kaduna (North-West), Abuja (North-Central), Warri (South-South), Enugu (South-East) and Ibadan (South-West).
“AUN has a good environment for learning,” Mariam Muhammadu Mala, a candidate, said.
“I have heard a lot about AUN and I think it is wonderful. They have good teachers, great students, and wonderful facilities. I love to come here and study Biomedicine and become a medical doctor. I will feel great if awarded a scholarship.”
The examination, which consisted of two papers (English and Mathematics), kicked off at 11 am at all the six regional centers and the admission candidates came out smiling. “All of them believe they are the best,” Usman Isa, Assistant Director of Admissions, said. “I think that’s a good thing.
“I like this place,” Al-Amin Modibbo, one of the candidates and former AUN Academy student, said. “AUN is conducive for learning. I want to come here, because it is home. I am positive about the examinations. It will be a thing of pride to receive the scholarship.”
Some parents were even around to cheer their wards to success. Danjuma Adamu Muhammed, a former Director of Culture in Adamawa State, brought his daughter, from Mubi to write the examination. “The facilities inside here are marvelous,” he said. “I have traveled worldwide and seen a lot of schools, but this is one of the most standard schools I have seen. I want my daughter to come here.”
Results of the examination are expected to be released in 2 weeks or by the 15th of August. Candidates are advised to check the university’s website: www.aun.edu.ng. [myad]
