UNIABUJA Selected to Pilot ECOWAS Club Initiative

The University of Abuja has been selected to pilot the ECOWAS Club initiative, with the programme expected to promote greater awareness of the regional organisation across the University community.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, disclosed this during a visit by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The initiative will focus on building awareness of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) among staff and students, while proposed areas of collaboration also include staff and student exchanges and linkages with the University’s Centres for Foreign Studies and Languages and Migration Studies.

The development was one of several engagements undertaken by the Professor Fawehinmi-led University Management during the week as part of efforts to strengthen institutional partnerships and expand opportunities for staff and students.

At the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Vice-Chancellor met with the Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, to explore possible areas of collaboration.

The discussions focused on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, digital infrastructure, staff development and student innovation.

The Vice-Chancellor also visited ASR Africa, where he presented hostel accommodation and ICT infrastructure as priority projects for the University.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of ASR Africa, Dr Ubon Udoh, subsequently invited the University to submit proposals under the organisation’s Tertiary Education Grants Programme.

In another development, the Ambassador of Thailand to Nigeria, His Excellency Mr Thirapath Mongkolnavin, visited the new Thai Corner at the University Library.

The Thai Corner is a resource space dedicated to Thai language, culture, tourism, foreign policy and cuisine.

The Ambassador’s visit forms part of efforts by the University to strengthen its institutional and cultural ties with Thailand.

Professor Fawehinmi has expressed the hope that the engagement will further deepen collaboration between the University and Thailand.