University of Jos - Nigeria
NUC EXECUTIVE SECRETARY VISITS UNIJOS
The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed has applauded University of Jos for its landmark achievements in Phytomedicine Research and Development. The Executive Secretary said the University has long been associated with excellence in carrying out its mandate which has resulted in its securing the World Bank research grant worth Eight million U. S Dollars for the establishment of an African Centre of Excellence in Phytomedicine Research and Development.
The NUC Executive Secretary was speaking during a visit to assess the activities of the African Centre for Excellence in Phytomedicine and Research Development (ACEPRD) in the University.
Professor Rasheed stressed the importance of the Centre to global research and development efforts and advised that its Researchers should serve as link between the Academia and traditional medicine practitioners. He noted that the Centre could enhance the preservation and conservation of Bio-diversity and human capital development in Africa.
The Executive Secretary described the presentation on activities of the Centre as direct, clear and highly resourceful and commended the University Management for its support to the Centre. He, however, urged Management to provide more assistance to the Centre to enable it fully carries out its mandate while projecting the University and NigeriaÕs image to the world.
Vice-Chancellor, University of Jos, Prof. Seddi Sebastian Maimako who welcomed the NUC Executive Secretary and his delegation to the University thanked the World Bank and NUC for partnering with the University through the Centre which he described as truly a Centre of Excellence. Prof Maimako said the University will continue to support the Centre in its determination to fulfill its core mandate of Teaching, Research and Community Service.
Presenting an overview of the activities of the Centre, the Deputy Director, Prof. Taiwo Alemika said the African Centre of Excellence in Phytomedicine Research and Development is one out of the 10 Centres of Excellence selected from Nigeria to contribute to health care development in Africa by exploiting its biodiversity. He explained that the Centre advances knowledge through discovery, dissemination and application of research findings by addressing critical challenges in the health care system.
Prof. Alemika also spoke on the vision, mission and objectives of the Centre, University's support to the Centre, Students capacity, Library and e-learning facilities, International Accreditation and the Environmental Safeguards Policy of the Centre. Prof. Alemika further spoke on the internally generated revenue, Applied Research, Future Product Development, new collaborations and challenges of the Centre.
Contributing, the NUC Deputy Director, ICT and Research, Dr. Joshua Attah commended the Centre for its research work and called for increased efforts towards attracting more International students. He added that the Centre can do more in terms of revenue generation. Dr. Attah charged Senior Researchers in the to Centre continue to mentor younger ones for the sustenance of the Centre.
Director of the Centre, Professor John Agunyi later conducted the NUC delegation on a facility tour of the Centre.
The Executive Secretary had earlier visited the Naraguta Campus Library of the University which was gutted by fire in October 2016.
Professor Abubakar Rasheed said he was saddened by the unfortunate incidence but was happy that the progress had been made towards commencing the Library's rehabilitation. He assured that immediately the due processes were completed, NUC would help facilitate the required approvals for the project to be undertaken.
Professor Rasheed encouraged the University to focus more on its e-library as, according to him, most modern libraries in the world were moving towards this direction with few hard copies of books on their shelves.
The Executive Secretary also visited the University Data Centre at the Naraguta Campus.