Ignatius Ajuru University Senate Approves Leadership Assessment Centre and Centre for Languages, Digital Humanities & Intercultural Studies

The Senate of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Rumuolumeni Port-Harcourt Rivers State Nigeria on Wednesday 24, 2026 approved the establishment of a University Leadership Assessment Centre as proposed by Professor Veronica Okogbaa of the Department of Educational Management. 

The centre will among other things identify and develop high potential skilled leaders and talents, evaluate participants through multi dimensional approach rather than rely on subjective perceptions, indulge in leadership trainings, generate income from services with succession planning.

Similarly, Senate also approved the establishment of a centre for languages, digital Humanities and intercultural studies as proposed by the Dean of Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ibiere Ken-Maduako. The proposed centre will have seven units namely language teaching unit where French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, German, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Rivers State indigenous languages will be taught. Translation and interpretation unit, indigenous languages documentation unit, Digital Humanities Laboratory, Artificial intelligence and language teaching unit, professional certification unit and Research and Publication unit..

The centre according to the Dean of Humanities will offer certificate in language proficiency for beginners, intermediate, advanced Diploma programme, translation and interpretation courses, Digital Humanities certification programme, Artificial intelligence and language technology workshops, online and Hybrid learning programmes, weekend and evening public classes, indigenous languages documentation training and Business and professional communication courses.

The centre Professor Ibiere Ken-Maduako stated will increase visibility of the University nationally and internationally, generate sustainable internally generated revenue, increase opportunities for grants and donor funded projects, enhance interdisciplinary research output, promote cultural preservation and community engagement, strengthen the University"s  profile in innovation and digital transformation, attract research collaboration and international partnerships, improve graduate employability and digital competence.

The Chairman of Senate Professor Okechuku Onuchuku encouraged sponsors of the centred to source for funds for the take off of the centred and have their contacts endow chairs. He explained that Directors will be appointed for the self-sponsored centres and reiterated that his administration will continue to support all proposals geared towards the growth of the University as long as they are consistent with the academic brief of the Ivory Tower. 

Earlier Professor Samuel Otamiri commended Professor Veronica Okogbaa for the proposed centre which he said is a remarkable development. He also described it as a robust programme that would attract the necessary patronage .

In another development, the Senate welcomed a suggestion by Professor Priye Iyalla-Amadi that Valedictory Senate sessions be introduced and held for retired Professors. 

Results from the Postgraduate School as presented by the Dean of the School, Professor Chibuzor Chile Nwobueze was approved by Senate. Senate also approved that presented by the Director of the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), Professor Goddey Wilson and that of the Graduate School of Business by Dr Florence Ironawusi.