Before the establishment of the University of Abuja in 1988, the National University Commission brought up the idea of an Open University system in Nigeria. This idea was to give opportunity to workers who could not leave their jobs to enroll for a full time programme but had an interest in learning. The open university was also an opportunity for youths that were denied admission into the Conventional Universities.
In 1976, the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) was established in Area 3, Garki Abuja to cater for the public and civil servants, general public and youths who are interested in learning. Therefore, when the need for conventional university to be established in the Federal Capital Territory the open university was converted and merged with the newly established university and changed its name to the Centre for Distance Learning and Continuing Education, which was part of the mandate given to the university.
2 UNIABUJA the first University to run dual programs
The University of Abuja was established on the 1st of January 1988 as a dual mode university charged with the responsibility of running both conventional and distance learning programs which was the first time a university in Nigeria would be given a dual mandate.
3. UNIABUJA started its activities in a primary school.
The University of Abuja started its academic work in 1990, with the matriculation of few pioneer students and Faculties namely: Law, Arts and Social sciences, Education and Sciences. The University took off from the compound of a primary school in Gwagwalada as it's temporary site. The school had three blocks of buildings and the University was tagged “mini campus” where both Administration and Academic activities of the University began.
4. The location of the UNIABUJA
In 1990, the University was allocated an expanse of land covering over 11,800 hectares along the Abuja-Airport road for the development of its main campus which makes it to be the second largest university in Nigeria after UNILORIN. It's interesting to know that the University have developed the area of Gwagwalada whose original settlers were the Gbagyi/Gbarri people but the university itself haven't develop due to the university location which was opposite the hectares of land given to the Nigeria Military (Nigerian Army, Nigerian Airforce, Nigerian Navy) this location have hindered the development of the school community as there is no space for developers to develop the school environs unlike other conventional universities in the country. The students area that is the off-campus, the Giri village and Iddo village. The Giri village is situated on a land own by the university while the Iddo village is situated on a land own by the Nigerian Army. These villages are occupied by temporary inhabitants who live in fear of not being driven away at any point in time. This situation they live in have made them built inferior homes for themselves and inferior hostels for the students without a well established business that would have helped the situation of many students.
5. UNIABUJA have the highest number of students and lecturers with diverse ethnic groups and cultural backgrounds.
The University have lived up to the reason why it's been situated in the Federal Capital Territory by being occupied by almost all the different ethnic groups in Nigeria. The University admitted students from every parts of Nigeria and direct its activities towards the needs of students from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds and prepare them for productive roles in society
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