Gov. Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State has urged members of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria Alumni Association to raise N800 million yearly in support of their Alma mater.

The governor, who is an Alumnus of the institution, made the call when members of the National Executive Committee of the Association paid him a courtesy visit on Friday in Kaduna.

El-Rufa’i said the amount could easily be raised if each of the 800,000-member Association made a yearly contribution of N1, 000.

He said that the amount so raised could be used for the upkeep and execution of projects embarked upon by the Association for the benefit of the institution.

He added that with the 800,000- membership, raising such amount annually to help them execute whatever projects was possible.

Earlier, the National President of the Alumni, Dr Ahmed Mora, said plan had been concluded to launch a publication entitled: ‘2016 ABU Information Flyey.’

He said money to be realised from the launch would be used to construct an overhead bridge at the North gate of the university.

Mora said the North gate would then be used as the main entrance to the institution.

Other projects to be executed by the alumni, he said, included the construction of a 50 -room of two halls for postgraduate students, males and females respectively.

“There will also be a bus service between the main campus at Samaru through Sabongari area to Kongo campus and vice-versa at affordable rates.

“This will ease transportation problems often faced by the students of both campuses.”

Mora said the Association would begin a laptop computer loan scheme for students to pay gradually during their stay on campus as undergraduates.

He added that the projects were carefully selected to serve as the Association’s corporate social responsibility.

He announced that President Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the Obi of Onitsha, were expected to grace the launch of the alumni’s publication at a yet to fixed date. (NAN)

•Photo shows Gov. El-Rufai.

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