ABU leases guest house to private investor

By Moh Bello Habib
Zaria

The management of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has leased its Guest House, popularly known as ABU Senior Staff Club, to Royal Choice Inn for a period of 18 years.

Speaking at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the parties, the vice-chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, said leasing was aimed at making the facility more befitting for the university community.

He explained that the he believed that the investor would manage the effectively to the taste of the Institution’s community, particularly the staff, students and visitors.

Also speaking with journalists shortly after taking over of the facility, the Chairman, Royal Choice Inn, Chief Felix Akiga, an alumnus of the institution, said the facility would turn a 3-star hotel for the betterment of the university community, staff and visitors.
Akiga said he would invest more N250 million to upgrade the facility run 3 star services at affordable tariff where every individual including students could afford.

He stated that his firm would partner with the Institution in areas of water system and power supply, adding that additional 200 rooms would provided.

Akiga pointed out that his firm would manage the facility for period of 18 years within which to recover his investment.
In a related development, the vice-chancellor has assured his administration’s continued commitment to promote sporting activities amongst staff and other university community.

He made the disclosure while declaring open vice-chancellor’s sporting activities week held at the Institution’s Assembly Hall.
He urged all staff, students and other community members of the institution to engage in any of the sporting activities to make themselves healthier and stronger

Earlier, the institution’s Director of Sports, Dr Musa Dogo Audu, said the Week was primarily designed to ensure oneness amongst staff, adding that about seven activities were to be competed for and would last between May 13 and 17.