THE University of Abuja has approved the expulsion of 28 students and the revocation of certificates for 15 former students.

The expelled students were found guilty of offences, including assault, examination malpractice, conspiracy, burglary, theft, cult-related activities, drug possession and use, falsification of admission results, and repeated failure to appear before the disciplinary committee.

The institution also withdrew the certificates of the former students for ignoring multiple invitations from the committee.

In another development, an indigenous airline, XEJet Limited, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Abuja to advance aviation-focused engineering education and hands-on technical training.

A statement yesterday by the Acting Director, Information and University Relations, Dr Habib Yakoob, said the decision was taken at the institution’s 191st Regular Meeting of Senate held on Thursday, 28 January 2026, following consideration of the report and recommendations of the Student Disciplinary Committee (SDC).

The statement also disclosed that nine students were exonerated after investigations, while 33 others received warnings for various infractions, including conspiracy, hostel racketeering, and fighting.

Speaking on the development, the Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of Senate, Hakeem Fawehinmi, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to maintaining a safe and conducive learning environment.

He stated that the institution would continue to uphold discipline and enforce its rules and regulations without compromise.

The VC commended the committee for its thorough and diligent handling of the cases, and urged students to conduct themselves responsibly and avoid actions that could jeopardise their academic pursuits.

“The academic integrity of the university is sacrosanct, and we are determined that anyone who violates it will be appropriately sanctioned. Our goal is not only to enforce discipline, but also to guide our students towards responsible citizenship and academic excellence,” he said.

Fawehinmi added that the tertiary institution would continue to strengthen student engagement, counselling, and orientation programmes to promote responsible conduct and prevent disciplinary infractions.

The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of XEJet, Emmanuel Iza, told journalists in Lagos over the weekend that the agreement would lead to the establishment of the XEJet Centre for Aerospace & Space Engineering, a specialised academic hub designed to strengthen aeronautical and astronautical engineering training and better prepare students for careers in the aviation and aerospace sectors.

Iza said the initiative emphasised the airline’s commitment to human capital development and the long-term growth of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

According to him, the project also aligned with the airline’s broader ambition to position Nigeria more prominently in the global aviation ecosystem by investing in education, infrastructure and talent development.

He expressed further that the project would be implemented in phases, beginning with the immediate upgrade and equipping of priority aerospace laboratories within existing University of Abuja facilities.

He emphasised that this initial phase was expected to enhance practical instruction and hands-on learning while supporting the institution’s accreditation requirements with the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).

Also commenting on the initiative, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Abuja, Prof. Abdulfatai Jimoh, described the collaboration as a timely intervention that would bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry exposure.

Jimoh explained that graduates required a blend of academic knowledge and industrial experience to be competitive and employable, adding that the partnership would significantly improve standards and quality within the aeronautical and astronautical engineering programme.

The duo further informed that, to strengthen industry linkage, the airline would offer automatic employment to the top three graduating students of the programme each year for 10 years, subject to meeting basic employability requirements.