At a time many Nigerians are scrambling for an opportunity to study abroad, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN) has, in recent time, been the destination for foreign graduates who come to further their academic work under a partnership programme between their universities and the UNN.
Briefing newsmen during a press conference organised to kick-off events of the 53rd founders’ day and golden jubilee of first graduates of UNN, at its Enugu campus, the Vice-Chancellor of the UNN, Prof. Bartho Okolo said his administration had made the Institution attractive to foreign students by upgrading infrastructures, equipping laboratories and classrooms with modern facilities, and forging collaborations with other universities.
“The University of my Vision is one with a befitting environmental ambience and adequate ultra modern infrastructure fitted with modern cutting edge teaching and research facilities. It is also a university which collaborates with many reputable universities across the world in diverse disciplines and one whose faculty and graduates can compete with their peers from across the globe”, he said.
Prof. Okolo added that since the inception of his administration four years ago, he and his team had pursued internationalization, adopting the strategy of revitalising of existing relationships and establishing over 50 new ones. The ties, according to him, were mutually beneficial to the partnering institutions and the UNN.
“The major tenets of these collaborations are joint research projects, staff and student exchanges, shared curriculum, joint applications for research grants, joint workshops and seminars/conferences as well as training”, he said On infrastructure upgrade, Prof. Okolo said his administration had carried out an extensive rehabilitation of decrepit buildings and massive construction of new ones, including the new administration building for the Enugu Campus of the university, School of Postgraduate Studies complex, the Institute of African Studies complex, Faculties of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Law buildings, presidential guest house, 83 bed room facility for visiting scholars, among others.
To sustain the standard of scholarship at the University, the Vice-Chancellor said his administration had continued to offer automatic employment to first class graduates of the UNN and best graduating students of other reputable universities, stating that “as at the last count, over 300 of such young scholar has been hired”.
While welcoming the new governing council of the University, Prof. Okolo also thanked corporate organisations and private individuals who had contributed in diverse ways to the infrastructure facelift in the University.
