Students to take drug test before admission, says UniAbuja

The management of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has announced that students seeking admission to the institution will now undergo drug tests.

Speaking at the school’s pre-convocation briefing on Wednesday, Abdul-Rasheed Na’allah, the varsity vice-chancellor, said intending students must undertake and present their drug test result before admission.

According to NAN, Na’allah said the exercise is important as a way to help students to be “free from drug abuse”.

The VC said any student who tests positive for illicit drugs will not be “rusticated but rehabilitated”.

He added that the school management is working with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to help rehabilitate students involved in drug abuse.

Na’allah said 7,128 students will be graduating at the school’s convocation, scheduled for October 7.

He said the graduation list also includes 100 PhDs, 326 academic masters, and 346 professional masters.

Out of the graduating students, 40 are with first class, 474 with second class upper, 944 second class lower, 174 with third class, and one pass degree.

He said the university has placed a ban on the “pass” grade degree henceforth.

He added that the university would also confer an honorary doctorate degree of letters on Toyin Falola of the University of Texas, Houston, for his role in the development and growth of the institution and other African universities.