UNN VC commends consortium for promoting research, scholarship in Africa

The University of Nigeria Nsuka (UNN) has commended consortium of Michigan State University (MSU) and leadership of Alliance for African Partnership (AAP), for promoting research and scholarship in Africa.

The Vice Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Charles Igwe, made the commendation at an Alumni Reception, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Igwe said that the AAP had created opportunity for the staff of UNN who participated in international collaborative research, thereby boosting the varsity viability and ranking in the league of universities.

According to him, the event affords him opportunity for gratitude and a special appreciation to MSU and leadership of AAP in all their commitment.

“The MSU’s strong desire to contribute to the development of research and scholarship in African continent is indeed remarkable.

“It is worthy of note that the admission of the UNN into the APP consortium has further exposed us to the immeasurable benefits of partnering with other African universities.

“The partnership has helped us to address a number of problems peculiar to our continent,” he said.

Igwe said that the AAP was birthed at a time when African universities desperately needed such collaborations to help bridge the gap on research on the continent.

He added that the consortium had offered grants to its members to address critical research problems.

“I am pleased to acknowledge that some staff of the UNN have benefited from AAP’s Partnership for Innovation Research in Africa (PIRA) grants.

`they also benefitted from the Transforming Institution Strategic Grants and the African Future Research Leadership Grants.

“So, we are here to deepen the bond of our partnership. We are here to build a formidable bridge of relationship between alumni of the MSU and the UNN and this has been made possible by the AAP,” he said.

Mr Steve Hanson, the Association’s Provost and Dean of International Studies and Programmes of Michigan University, said that the UNN students could study all over the world and come out with best.

Hanson said that the purpose of AAP was to build the next generation of African researchers so that they could become specifically leaders in their community.

He said the AAP was a collaborative and cross disciplinary platform to address global challenges in a sustainable way, adding that the AAP was consortium of MSU.

Also, the Regional West Africa of Ford Foundation, Dr Chichi Aniagolu, expressed worry over the state of universities in the country.

Aniagolu called on relevant stakeholders and other meaningful Nigerians to join hands to provide necessary facilities that would strengthen the universities in the country.