By Felix Khanoba
Vice Chancellor of University of Abuja (UniAbuja), Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, has expressed the readiness of the institution to commence Geology and Mining programme in the 2023/2024 academic session.
Professor Na’Allah made this known on Tuesday in Abuja at the second anniversary of the partnership between University of Abuja and Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).
The Vice Chancellor, who said the new academic programme is being jointly put in place by the University and ACCI as part of the gains from the partnership, said the move would also ensure exploration of the vast mineral resources in UniAbuja’s campus.
While saying the University is leveraging on its abundant human and mineral resources to attract industries as well as investors to the campus, the Vice-Chancellor said students and academic staff would also benefit massively from mineral exploration in the area of practical and research.
On the level of readiness to commence Geology and Mining in the institution, the VC said a committee put in place by the University and ACCI is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the take-off of the programme.
“Our goal is from the 2022 / 2023 academic year, which will (be) April or May, that a new department of Geology and Mining will take-off in this our campus,” he said.
Speaking further, Professor Na’Allah commended ACCI for the partnership, saying the deal has recorded many success stories since coming into force.
He said some students of the University now undergo internship and Student’s Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) programme in understries under ACCI, addiing that the two bodies have been working on strategic areas which will also be beneficial to the country as whole.
“There are so many other programmes we are looking at, and one of them is the agric park, the chamber and the University are working passionately on it and hope it will take off soon,” the VC said.
Professor Na’Allah said investors stand to gain a lot by coming to the University which is located just 10 minutes away from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and about 25 minutes drive from Abuja Central business district, adding that the move to designate the UniAbuja as a free trade zone would also be a major boost for prospective investors.
“We have begun the process to turn the entire campus and declare it by Federal Government as economic free zone,” the Vice Chancellor said.
On his part, President of ACCI, Dr Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, said the event underscored the importance of the partnership between the institutions and the achievements it has recorded.
Represented by Vice President of ACCI, Kolawole Owoka, Abubakar said : “Today’s occasion is aimed to celebrate the partnership of the two institutions, review activities of the year 2022, and discuss proposed activities for the forth coming year.”
“The relationship between the two institutions that has climaxed into a beautiful union started with the Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in mid-2021 at the Vice Chancellor’s Conference Room. The MoU allows both parties to prepare a skilled work force, business and educational institutions to preserve our nation’s competitiveness and economic strength in response to a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive world.
“Both ACCI and UofA in the MoU agreed to partner in the areas of; research, training, capacity building and continuing education, workshops and conferences, executive and regular MBAs, skills development, technology and knowledge transfer, trade fairs and expos, preparation of curriculum and modules for specialized trainings, policy advocacy, amongst others.”
The ACCI president, who expressed delight that the relationship has been cordial and mutually beneficial, called for a continuous closer synergy between the Chamber as a business community and UniAbuja as an academic institution to fast-track national development.
He, however called on UniAbuja to support the upgrade of the relationship from just MoU to legal partnership across investment related fields for the mutual benefit of both parties, adding that the ACCI has fully hit the ground running on the deal.
“So far, we have commenced the placement of students under the SIWES programme in member companies, participated in the referral of Industry expert to provide lectures for students of the University during the Global Entrepreneurship week and commenced planning for the development of key infrastructure of learning at the University amongst others.
“We have also participated in key activities of both our institutions such trade fair, activities of the school of legislative studies at the university, the undergraduate research day, and maiden edition of the global entrepreneurship week,” Abubakar said.
In a remark, the Director General of ACCI, Victoria Akai, said UniAbuja and the Chamber have established a special relationship between industry and academia, which is foreseen to meet 21st-century global standards.
According to the Director General, “What we have come to celebrate today is a relationship that will provide a conducive environment for entrepreneurship and innovation. It will support the growth and development of strategic industries within a learning environment, exposing hands-on students to real-time industry requirements for their courses of study.
“The partnership serves as a platform for the university community to connect with industry leaders, investors, and other stakeholders to develop and grow their ideas and businesses.
” Specifically, we are looking at; Providing a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurship and innovation on the University of Abuja campus, Attracting and facilitating investment into this campus that will benefit the University and the Nigerian economy in general. There will be manufacturing activities, incubation, and acceleration programs, mining, mentorship and support services, networking and collaboration opportunities, and access to funding and investment. The industry is here to work closely with the University’s academic departments and research centers to identify and support promising ideas and projects.”
