American University of Nigeria

Founded in 2004 by a former Vice President of Nigeria and Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate in the 2019 election, Atiku Abubakar, American University of Nigeria enrolled its first students in 2005. The university is located in Yola, the state capital of Adamawa.

The university was originally named the ABTI American University of Nigeria before it was renamed to AUN. AUN is the first American-style institution of higher learning in sub-Saharan Africa (the only other such university in Africa is the American University in Cairo in Egypt).[3] AUN is a member of the Global Liberal Arts Alliance.

University Library

The university's current president is Dr. Margee Ensign, preceded by Dr. David Huwiler, Dr. Michael Smith, Dr. Margee Ensign, Dr. Dawn Dekle.

Students at the Laboratory

AUN Students in a Classroom

The institution was conceived as a university that would focus on development issues while providing an education modeled after the best US practices in content and pedagogy. The three original constituent schools were Arts & Sciences, Business & Entrepreneurship, and IT & Computing. In 2007, the name of the institution was changed to its present name of the American University of Nigeria (AUN). The pioneer class of 92 students graduated in 2009. Every class since then has graduated on schedule.

In 2008, the National Universities Commission (NUC) accredited AUN programs and re-accredited them in 2013. In 2012, AUN launched a graduate program, the Executive Master’s degree in Information Technology. Since then, more programs up to the Ph.D. level have been approved by the NUC.

AUN has an alternative power station, solar-panel car parks, and from its inception has provided 24-hour high-speed internet connectivity. In 2014, it opened the ultra-modern Robert A. Pastor Library and e-Learning Center.

AUN is located in Yola, the capital city of Adamawa State. The AUN campus occupies a serene savannah vegetation most of which was used as farmland. Adamawa, one of the six states in northeast Nigeria, shares the longest borderline with Cameroon. Yola is accessible by road and air, and daily flights from the Yola Airport connect through Abuja to regional, national, and international locations.

The main campus comprises 17 buildings including nine Residence Halls, a spacious cafeteria, a 3,500-capacity Commencement Hall which also serves as indoor basketball and volleyball court, a dedicated Students Hub, an environmentally-themed administrative building, School of Arts & Sciences building, and Peter Okocha building which houses the School of Law and its library. A new, more spacious building for the School of Law with a 100-seater auditorium opens in 2022. The Robert A. Pastor Library and E-Learning Center, which won the American Library Associations’ 2013 Presidential Citation for Innovative International Library Projects, contains a library section with over 250,000 digital holdings, state-of-the-art classrooms, study rooms, reading zones, the Writing Center, classrooms for the New Foundation program, Advising Unit and the Honor Society tutoring center, alongside modern multimedia and telecoms/wireless technology labs, a radio studio and the 24-hour room with a cafe. The North Campus, which used to be the temporary site, is located across the street from the main campus. It provides dedicated space and modern buildings that include the new fully furnished Faculty (housing) Village, Community Development Center, and offices for international partner organizations. All buildings are fully air-conditioned and installed with modern facilities. The entire campus has high-speed wireless Internet connectivity and the residences are fully secured by well-trained and educated security personnel supported with drones and modern surveillance gadgets, 24-hour electricity, clean running water, and cable television

In the words of its Founder, AUN sees its role as a “Development University.” Thus, the University honors the traditional university roles of repository and transmitter of culture and knowledge and center for the creation of new knowledge. As a “Development University,” it focuses on the practical roles that a great university must play in the development of a great nation and continent.

To these ends as a “Development University,” AUN fosters the creation of leaders committed to sustaining a democracy in which diverse people share in the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, are proficient in creating and applying technology to wise purpose, and are dedicated to securing a humane, prosperous and sustainable world.

AUN has adopted a strategic vision to be a Sustainability Leader in all facets of its operations not only in Education and in Africa, but also globally.

AUN is committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens through exposure and engagement in learning activities and experiences that are designed intentionally to prepare them for challenges in a global society. AUN provides a wide range of opportunities for students to participate in competitive and recreational sporting events. Athletics offers a wide array of instructional programs to include aquatics, fitness, tennis, and instructional courses at the craft center. The University also offers a number of student athletic clubs and organizations. AUN has highly rated teams representing males and females in intercollegiate sports and recreation to include soccer, basketball, tennis, swimming, chess, scrabble, badminton, volleyball, polo, track, and field. Through involvement in residential living, student activities, leadership development experiences, athletics, student governance, and many other extra-curricular programs and activities, students will find many opportunities to enhance their overall development and prepare them to make significant contributions both in Nigeria and in the world. These include student clubs and organizations, the Student Government Association, the Campus Activities Board, Honor Societies, and religious-affiliated groups.

Community service is central to AUN. The purpose of the AUN Office of Community Engagement and Service Learning is to provide opportunities for meaningful service to the greater Yola community while helping AUN students to become knowledgeable, conscientious, and engaged citizens. Freshmen begin community service from the first semester during Freshmen Orientation. Throughout their four years, students are encouraged to volunteer actively in any of the regular, extracurricular outings that the Office organizes almost every day of the week. Students work hand in hand with people and organizations in the community, including schools, health clinics, community associations, and the local government.

The American University of Nigeria places a strong emphasis on ethical values and leadership training for its students. A Judicial Affairs Office enforces an Academic Integrity Code and the Student Code of Conduct which guides students’ conduct both in academic and co-curricular activities. Through the Emerging Leaders Academy, AUN students undergo training in leadership and imbibe ethical and moral values for a life of service after graduation. AUN students are exposed to numerous global outreaches which expands their network and education in diplomatic work. These include the annual Hult Prize, the Model United Nations Conference in New York, seminars and conferences

Interior view of university Library

Students receiving lectures in a class room

The university consists of six schools, offering the following undergraduate majors and graduate programs:[4]

School of Information Technology & Communications

• BSc Software Engineering
• BSc Computer Science
• BSc Information Systems
• BSc Telecommunications & Wireless Technologies

An image from a graduation ceremony

The University Campus in Yola

AUN is a residential campus situated on 2,400 hectares.[5] It is home to approximately 1,400 undergraduate students and 87 faculty members.

An Image from the school gym

The university's e-Library Project received the American Library Association's Presidential Citation for Innovative International Library Projects in 2013.[6][7]

AUN alums can be found in big tech industries, global HR firms, top graduate schools around the world, and private firms in Nigeria. Some are running their own enterprises and building them into top brands in the highly competitive Nigerian market. Some notable alumni:

Verse Shon, Abdulrauf Bello, Wisdom Omuya, Hamman Samuel, Faith Biyapo, Teinye Akobo, Zunzika Thole, Cynthia Dieyi, Rosemary Adaji, Itari Turner, Oma Ogban, Yemi Ogunyomi, Nura Manu, Binta Suleiman, Chike Chiejina, Aja Ogban, Joseph Ogbonna, Chukwunonso Okany, Nayyara Samuel, Arinze Nwoye, Maryam Abubakar, Sam Oye, Ifeatu Uzodinma, Irene Nyoye, Damian Feese, Adaobi Umoru, Fisayo Stevens, Naima Samuel, Kenechukwu Nwagbo, Nachamada (Nacha) Geoffrey, Cynthia Dieyi, Wisdom Adinoye Omuya, Olusola Omowunmi Akintonde, Innocent Demshemino, Dooyum Malu, Daniel Harbor, Abubakar Abdullahi Radda, Joseph Ishaku, Terry Terry Ilebode, Charles Charles, Donatus Edi, Chidiebere Francis Ahanonu, Enam Victor, Fatima Umar Ganduje Eugene Uwiringiyimana Kingsley Jima Celestine, Ozomata J. Omuya, Gregory Itanyi, Donatus Ishimwe, Gervais Manizabayo, Faustin Hategekimana, Ozomata J. Omuya, Okechukwu Ohamadike Peter Elvis, Aimable Niyomugabo, Gwaha Anthony Madwatte.

• DJ Bally
• Emily Nkanga

The AUN Board of Trustees consists of one American, Tulane Professor of Public Health, Dr. William Ellis Bertrand, and 12 eminent Nigerians, with Senator Ben Obi as Chairman of the Governing Council. AUN’s BoT members come from diverse backgrounds in academia, private and public sectors. The President/Vice-Chancellor of AUN is the Chief Executive Officer. The President’s Executive Council (PEC) is the top management organ and has as its members the Provost/VP for Academic Affairs, deans of the six Schools, the Vice Presidents for Administration/Registrar, Finance, and Student Affairs/Residence Life; and heads of Security, Enrolment Management, Technology Support, Physical Planning, Marketing & Communications, and University Events. The Senate is responsible for academic discipline and curriculum oversight while the Congregation, which comprises all staff with a minimum of a first degree, meets at least once every semester to receive a report of the University’s progress from the President.

• Official website

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