Nigerian VCs Committee Sign MoU with UK Universities

In the Photo : The CVCNU Chairman, Prof. Samuel Edoumiekumo, CVC Sec-Gen, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu both at the middle, Director, UUKI, Mrs Vivienne Stern, UUKI Team leader, Prof Steve Smith, Vice Chancellors of Universities of ilorin and Abuja and others

The Committee of Vice Chancellor’s of Nigerian Universities CVCNU, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Universities in the U.K on exchange programmes that would benefit both countries.

Chairman, CVCNU, Prof. Samuel Edoumiekumo, who presided over the signing of the MoU in Abuja , said that the Nigerian University System (NUS) is desirous of partnership in the area of joint degree collaboration.

Edoumiekumo said collaboration with the UUKI would enhance exchange programme that would boost Nigeria’s transnational education.

“NUS will greatly benefit from the partnership as the issue of cost to study abroad will be taken care of”

“With this relationship, you can be in Nigeria and receive the kind of quality education you will want to get when you travel to the U.K”

“As a country, we also want to have a joint degree programmes with universities in the U.K. This will help boost the quality of education in the country,‘‘ he said.

He assured that the NUS would implement the MoU to the letter that would translate to development in every sector of the country’s economy.

The CVCNU Chairman further disclosed that the general assembly of the committee had planned to train 500 Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) and Masters of Science (M.Sc) that would drive research for the country.

He identified the need to collaborate on training women and giving them opportunities in the decision making process of the university system.

“NUS is 74 years old and have structure with that of British University System. CVCNU is seeking relationship with the Universities in U.K.

“Since inception of the NUS, we have been able to produce 760 Vice Chancellors out of which 37 are women”.

“And currently, we have 16 of them out of the 218 universities in the country comprising the Federal, States and Private universities approved by the NUC,” he said.

He, therefore, welcomed the collaboration saying that it would facilitate the exchange of staff and learning support.

The University U.K International Team Leader, Prof. Steve Smith said the team was overwhelmed by the positive attitude of the Nigerian government in embracing the collaboration.

“Nigeria is one of the five countries the U.K has asked to focus on. We want to form a long lasting sustainable partnership.

“We want to look at a way we can work with universities in Nigeria and partner on transnational education without having to pay to the U.K.

“So, to be successful in the system, you have to be internationally inclined in research which is what we will do in our exchange programmes,” he said.

Similarly, the Director, UUKI, Mrs Vivienne Stern said that the MoU would serve as a deeper structure and a means of exploring the discussion on challenges of the Nigerian University System in the area of teaching staff and training of students.

Stern added that the pandemic had pose a great challenge to countries around the world saying that with the collaboration, there would be transformation in the area of teaching and this would be achieved through a systematic engagement with university leaders.

Also, the Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja, Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, said that the university leaders were well prepared to key into the initiative the collaboration would bring Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK, Ambassador Sarafa Ishola, who attended the meeting via zoom, pledged the commitment of his office to nurture the relationship with all that would be needed to achieve results on the MOU.

“I urge both sides to work hard to achieve a successful collaboration , whatever is needed to nurture this relationship, the Nigerian high commission in the UK will provide”

May 21, 2022