NHEF News

Lagos — THE University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) on science education and research.

Officials of the UNN signed the agreement on Thursday during a working visit to the Academy by the group.

The New York-based Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF), which was set up by the MacArthur Foundation to help Nigerian universities, facilitated the agreement.

The agreement will allow science staff and students from UNN to take part in the work of NYAS, either in the U.S or through the Internet.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Operating Officer of the Academy, Mr. Richard Baum, said the knowledge-based programme had commenced immediately.

"As soon as possible we want to sign up the students and professors (lecturers) who are permitted through the screening to be members of the Academy, with 25,000 other scientists around the world.

"They will be in a collaborative community and it would be of benefit to scientists around the world and Nigeria.

"It puts the students and professors in sciences in Nigeria right in the middle of one of the premier worldwide scientific communities.

"Not as a student or teacher but as colleagues who are working with other scientists around the world to advance scientific understanding," he said.

Responding, Dr Bennett Nwanguma, Senior Special Assistant to the UNN Vice Chancellor on Special Duties, said the programme would put staff and students at the cutting edge of learning science and achieving innovations.

"With this collaboration UNN will rub minds with some of best and global leaders in science and there are opportunities to network with colleagues and in addition broaden knowledge across disciplines, he said.

Dr Ferdinard Ofodile, the Vice President of NHEF, noted that the programme would be extended to five universities in the country.

They include the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University Kano, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi and University of Port Harcourt.

"The science alliance of the New York Academy is state-of-the-art web based education programme and this is the first time they are aligning with a Nigerian university.

"We are hoping that it will give impetus not only to teaching of students in sciences but also establishing linkages between UNN students and faculty and the students and faculty in the United States," he said.

"Currently, between 300 to 500 students are expected participate in the programme, which will be faculty driven and this will be a great educational tool for UNN," he said.

In his remarks, Prof Jerry Ugwuanyi, Senior Special Assistant on Research to the Vice Chancellor of UNN said the services of NYAS would be available to staff and students at a very reduced rate.

" Instead of 150 dollars a year per faculty member, we will be expected to pay only 20 dollars .

"This is a major boost to our academic record at the UNN and it is up to us to keep it alive as long as both institutions are alive," he said.

Ugwuanyi said it did not cost the University any "physical cash" to secure the agreement and commended the NHEF for its effort.

Mr. David Smith, the Academy's Director of Membership and Marketing described the collaboration with UNN as very important.

"Our conversation with UNN has stemmed from the notion that there are potential users of this cutting-edge science content, whether in classroom settings or in terms of continuing education for faculties.

"When you have students who can engage with other students and faculties outside their institution that is where the real power of science comes alive," he said.

According to him, the Academy had international collaborations with institutions in South Korea and a number of US-based institutions.

(republished with permission)