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Tag: UNIZIK

  • UNIZIK inaugurates committee to develop STEM in Igbo language

    UNIZIK inaugurates committee to develop STEM in Igbo language

    By Ovat Abeng

    Management of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, in collaboration with an Igbo social-cultural Organization, Odinala Cultural Heritage Foundation (OCHE), has inaugurated a committee to developed curriculum for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) with Igbo Language as language of instruction and evaluation across Schools in South East Nigeria.

    Speaking during the inauguration that took place at the Asuu-unizik Secretariat, on Friday, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Charles Esimone, said the programme will help promote the use of mother tongue in modern technology.

    The VC while commending the foundation for initiating the ideas, charged the committee members to tackle the assignment diligently.

    In his address, the Executive Director of OCHIE Igbo STEM School, Okoro Chinedum Benedict, said the target of the Project is to raise a generation of Igbo children who can innovate, conceive, invent, and interpret phenomena in the Igbo language.

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    He noted that it will also take off on a virtual note targeting to enroll Igbo kids from all parts of the world.”This way, the educational barriers and challenges associated with the learning sciences in our primary and secondary schools would be a thing of the past”.

    “over the years, educationists, researchers, and curriculum development experts have argued that children perform better when taught in their mother tongue, hence the project” OCHIE boss explained.

    Former Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Prof Chinedu Nebo, in his keynote address, called on all Universities in South East region to make Igbo Language compulsory for students.

    Nebo who spoke on the topic: “The Potentials of mainstreaming Igbo as the language of instruction and evaluation for STEM in Igboland, also called on south east governors to make the language a text-run for those seeking for government work in the region.

    The National President of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwanyawu was represented at the event by Prof Fred Eze.

  • My message to Unizik matriculants – VC Esimone

    My message to Unizik matriculants – VC Esimone

    By Ovat Abeng

    The Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Professor Charles OkechukwEsimone, has in strong terms admonished the newly admitted  students into the University to be of good behaviour to achieved their future dreams.

    The VC gave the admonition at the 2023/2024 matriculation ceremonies for fresh undergraduate students of the university, on Friday.

    He noted that any student who does not pay his/her fees by the appropriate time runs the risk of being excluded from examinations.

    Stating the obligations of the students, the VC said, “It needs no gainsaying that you must pay your school fees as and when due to enable the University maintain existing facilities and provide new ones.

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    “Any student who does not pay his/her fees by the appropriate time runs the risk of being excluded from examinations.

    Continue, Esimone said, “For your stay in this university to successfully end with the acquisition of a university degree, you owe certain obligations to the University, your parents and yourselves.

    These obligations are summarized below:Payment of Fees. You must attend at least 75% attendance of all lectures and practicals for you to be allowed to write examinations”

    The VC warned that examination misconduct could fetch a culprit suspension for up to three years and even expulsion, while students found to have registered with fake certificates would be expelled from the university.

    Describing cultism as an anathema in the university, the VC said all proven cultists were expelled.

    He added, “Other deviant behaviors such as robbery, rape, etc are not tolerated for these are both misconduct and crime punishable by expulsion from the university and terms of imprisonment by the state.

    While congratulating the new students on their admission, the VC enjoined them to at all times during their stay in the university to remember why they were there, adding, “I pray that your stay in the university ends with a degree of the university.”

    “On Academic Programmes of the University, Esimone explain that Nnamdi Azikiwe University is a conventional University, with fifteen (15) Faculties and the academic programmes, of which most are variously accredited with the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the relevant professional bodies which are:

    Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN); Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN); Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN); Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON); Pharmacists Council of Nigeria; Nigerian Council of Legal Education; Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria; Medical Rehabilitation Board of Nigeria; Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria, Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON); Council of Registered Builders’ of Nigeria (CORBON); Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON): and Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

    Continuing, he said, “We have also linkages with many world-renowned Universities spread across the United State of America, China, Europe and Africa. The essence of these linkages is to facilitate academic programmes development, teaching/research, public service and staff/student exchange.”

    “It is therefore my pleasure to welcome you all: students, parents/guardians and staff of the University to this undoubtedly auspicious event in the life of the matriculants,” the VC added.

  • NiMet, Unizik Sign MOU To Build Weather Station

    NiMet, Unizik Sign MOU To Build Weather Station

    By Ovat Abeng

    Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Nnamdi Azikiwe University (Unizik) on Friday, 12th January, 2024, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to build a weather station in the university.

    Professor Charles Esimone signed on behalf of the Governing Council of Unizik while Professor Charles Anosike signed on behalf of NiMet.

    Speaking at the MOU signing ceremony, Professor Anosike charged the management of Unizik to take leadership in downscaling NiMet’s annually issued Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) to farmers and other users in Anambra state and beyond.

    “The MOU signed with Unizik to partner in building a weather station in the university is a big achievement for NiMet as the partnership will ensure that farmers and other users receive timely weather and climate information”, Professor Anosike said. He thanked Professor Esimone for the commitment shown in signing the MOU on behalf of Unizik, as it shows the importance the university attaches to weather and climate information.

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    In his response, Prof Esimone thanked Professor Anosike for the opportunity to collaborate with NiMet. “I am promising NiMet that Unizik will play its part in fulfilling the terms of the MOU which is a landmark accomplishment. Not only our local farmers, but our students, lecturers and researchers will benefit from this relationship especially in the areas of information on climate prediction and climate change”.

    “Unizik will match the financial commitments of NiMet to the project by two because weather and climate information is critical to economic development”.

    “We will also involve our Centre for Community Development (CCD) with this project so that we can improve on farmer education. NiMet should also consider training relevant Unizik staff to help sustain the terms of the MOU”, he concluded.

    Professor Esimone was accompanied by Professor Ifeanyi Christian Enete of the Department of Geography and Meteorology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, while Directors of NiMet also witnessed the signing of the MOU.