UWA Celebrates Children’s Christmas Party

The Children’s Center, University of Nigeria, Nsukka was agog with gorgeously dressed children of the university community who assembled to celebrate their usual annual Christmas party organized by the University Women Association (UWA).

The wife of the Vice-Chancellor who is also the Patron of UWA, Barr (Mrs) Nwanneka Okolo said that this was a season of rejoicing and celebration all over the world, hence, the need to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with the entire children of the university community. She spoke through the wife of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Mrs. Chinwe Asuzu who represented her.

The President of UWA, Prof. (Mrs) Kate Oreh in her welcome address commended the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bartho Okolo for sponsoring the party. She lauded the children for attending the party and urged them to live in peace with their parents, family members and friends throughout this season and thereafter.

The children were thrilled with games, various dance competitions and also by the visit of Santa Claus who shook hands with them, distributed gifts and also urged them to be of good behaviour.

Furthermore, there was a playlet by the children titled “Little Baby of Bethlehem”, directed by Dr. (Mrs) Grace Anyanwu and a Masquerading dance by St. Peters Altar Boys.

Other dignitaries who attended the party included the wife of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Mrs Osondu Okwueze, Head, Department of Library and Information Science, Prof. (Mrs) V. Dike, Director, Curriculum Development and Instructional Materials Center (CUDIMAC), Prof. (Mrs) Uche Nzewi, Director, Institute of Education, Prof. (Mrs) Nkadi Onyegegbu and members of UWA as well as parents of children.

Olanrewaju Ajala

Advanced Legal Studies Acclaims UNN Faculty of Law among the best in Nigeria

The Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) has named the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as one of the best in Nigeria that can favourably compete with other renowned faculties of law in the world.

This was contained in a statement released by the Director-General (DG) of NIALS, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN.  According to the statement, UNN was among the ten universities selected after an extensive research and scientific data collection on faculties of law in federal, state and private universities across the country.

According to Azinge, the release was in fulfilment of the legal institute’s statutory responsibility of providing up-to-date information, supervision, guidance and advice to law researchers on any university of choice in Nigeria.

“Our duty demands that we undertake a project of this nature to promote standardisation and for the mutual benefit of the students and the institutions. Thus, the essence of this ranking is to challenge Nigerian law faculties to improve standards in all aspects.

“This ranking is not interminable as law faculties that were not captured in the top 10 ranking are encouraged to improve their standards significantly so as to stand a chance in subsequent years. While those ranked are encouraged not to rest on their oars, they are to work tirelessly to maintain already set standards”, he said

Other universities named in the statement included: University of Lagos (UNILAG), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, the University of Jos (UNIJOS), University of Benin (UNIBEN), Lagos State University (LASU) and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria. Others were; Babcock University, University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) and Igbinedion University, Okada.

Over 6000 Freshmen Matriculate at the UNN

Over 6000 new students were officially welcomed to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) during the 39th Matriculation ceremony of the University.

Addressing the freshmen, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Bartho Okolo congratulated the students for their success during the admission stage, and urged them to tow the footsteps of great men and women who had passed through the University on their path to eminence.  The Vice-Chancellor’s address was read by Deans of Faculty, as the matriculation ceremony was held in different faculties of the University.

 Continuing, the Vice-Chancellor said; “You earned a place at today’s ceremony because of your impressive performances at both the University Matriculation Examination (UME) and the Post University Matriculation Examination (PUME). You should all be proud of this achievement.”

“However, you should be humbled by the fact that less than 7000 of you have been given the opportunity out of the over 100,000 candidates that competed for a place at the University of Nigeria.”

Prof. Okolo advised the freshmen to resist any temptation of involving themselves in anti-social behaviours, stressing that the University had zero tolerance policy on cultism and examination malpractice.

Further, he urged those who were already members of cult groups before joining the University to denounce such memberships or risk being expelled and prosecuted by the police.

 According to him, “there are a number of legitimate students’ clubs which are registered with the Department of Students’ Affairs. You are encouraged to identify the ones that appeal to you, and to register and participate in the activities of these genuine associations.”

Prof. Okolo also entreated the students to be law abiding and prioritise their academic work to enable them achieve their mission to the University.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that his administration had made spirited effort to improve the welfare of students and provide a congenial environment for their learning. According to him, the administration had embarked on the execution of students’ oriented projects, ranging from the modernisation of classrooms and laboratories, construction of students’ multipurpose centre, to digitalisation of classrooms and provision of facilities for extra-curricular activities.

Prof. Okolo assured the students that the University will not renege on its duty to offer them the needed support to enable them actualise their dreams and aspirations. He however urged them to make their own input, stating that “to whom much is given, much is also expected”.  

  
Meanwhile, some of the matriculating students whose opinions were sampled by staff of the Public Relations Unit shared their views and aspirations.
 “My name is Ndu Joseph, Department of Educational Foundation. I am very glad to be among the privileged few that got admission into this prestigious university, and I hope to make good use of the opportunity to develop myself and impact on the society. When I graduate, I hope to apply the knowledge I would have acquired in the area of guidance and counselling to solve the problem of moral decadence that is the lot of our society.”

My name is Onuoha Vivian Nkechinyere, Department of Linguistics; “I feel very excited today, to me, it is a dream come true. Even before entering this great University, I had set a target to graduate with a first class degree so that the University will retain me as a graduate lecturer; I pray God will help me attain that goal.”

Also, some parents who shared their opinions, acknowledged that there were environmental facelift and infrastructural upgrade in the University.
HRH Colonel C.C Ude (Rtd) grandfather of Tobenna Eze, a student of  the Faculty of Engineering, had this to say; “ today’s event is fantastic. The University is very much improved, it used to be a very old place, most of the buildings looked very dilapidated but I can see some kind of improvement, not only the structures but also the environment.”

Similarly, Mrs Stella Ike, a parent and alumnus of the University, said; “I feel great to attend the matriculation ceremony of my third daughter and I am impressed with what I am seeing, the environment has really changed. As a lioness, I know how it used to be, I am happy I have seen a lot of structural changes. That shows that things are going well here.”

Inya, Agha E. and Oma Ekwueme,


 

UNN Gears up to Host WAUG Competition

Arrangements are in top gear as the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN) prepares to host the West African University Games (WAUG) competition in football and hockey, tentatively scheduled to take place in the month of May 2013.

Speaking in an interview with staff of Public Relations Unit in his office, the University Director of Sports, Mr. Godwin Ogbobe, said that the University administration was working round the clock to ensure that standard facilities were put in place for the competition.

“The Local Organising Committees are working hard to ensure that at least five standard hockey pitches are provided for the game, the main bowl stadium will be re-grassed, electronic boards will be made available and lots more,” he said.

The Sports Director explained that the right to host WAUG competition was attracted to the University because of the dynamic approach and passion of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof, Bartho Okolo, for sports, which he manifested when he served as the Coordinator of the 2008 NUGA competition hosted by the UNN. The game, according to him, was unprecedented in the history of NUGA competitions and was widely adjudged to be the best ever hosted in the country.

Also he said that the hosting right was granted to the University because of the availability of sporting facilities, including a good stadium with tartan tracks, standard hockey pitches and a swimming pool, which he said were very rare to find in other universities in the country.
Further, Mr. Ogbobe said that apart from the 145 universities in Nigeria, about 53 to 70 other universities, drawn from both Francophone and Anglophone countries in West Africa, are expected to participate in the competition, which will officially last for 10 days.

According to him, while only male teams will participate in the football competition, hockey will be open to the participation of both male and female teams.

On the readiness of UNN teams for the competition, the Sports Director said that the teams were currently undergoing intensive training exercise, with coaches already on ground to groom the players. He added that although equipping a hockey team was cost intensive, UNN had a formidable hockey team with complete kits.

The Director noted that the University of Nigeria, which will be hosting the WAUG competition for the first time, had come a long way to take its pride of place in NUGA medal table. He expressed belief that the winning spirit would be sustained in the up-coming WAUG competition.

To equip the players with the rules of the game Mr. Ogbobe said that arrangement had been concluded to bring coaches with international experience to lecture players on the international rules governing the games of football and hockey.

The Director assured that the university administration was committed to giving the UNN teams the needed support and motivation to excel in the competition. He therefore urged the university community to give the teams the moral support they will need to make the University proud.

Oma Ekwueme and Inya, Agha E.

UNN Holds Youth Leadership Entrepreneurship Seminar
As part of students’ empowerment goal of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, there will be a Youth Leadership Entrepreneurship Seminar designed to equip final year students of the University with the skills needed to make them employable and indispensable in the labour market. The University is organising the seminar in association with the Anabel Group.
 Experienced entrepreneurs have been carefully selected to guide students on how to kick start their own business and stay afloat in the murky waters of Nigerian business environment. Final year students and staff are advised to grab the opportunity and add value to their lives.    The seminar is scheduled as follows:  
Date: 31st January 2013
Venue:  Moot Court Complex, Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu
Keynote Speaker:  Nicholas Okoye, President /CEO Anabel Group and Anabel Leadership Academy, Founding Group Executive Director, Transcorp PLC
 Other Speakers include:  
1.    Dr Sam Amadi, Chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory  Commission
2.    Hon. Jones Onyereri, Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Banking and currency
3.    Prof (Monsignor) Obiora Ike, Motivational Speaker and a Catholic Priest
4.    Ogbo A. Ogbo, Corporate Speaker/ Executive Coach, Alumnus of the  Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) Pan African University and current president of EDC’s Grooming Enterprise leaders Class
5.    Prof Chidiebere Onyia,  Chairman/ CEO Centre for Education Reform  and Sustainable Initiative.
6.    Mr. Osita Chidioka, Chief Executive officer, Federal Road Safety Commission
7.    Nze Akachukwu Nkankpo, special Adviser to the President on Technical Matters
8.    Mr. Obi Asika, Chief Executive Officer, Storm 360
Participants are advised to indicate interest and register in advance to enable organisers make proper arrangements for the seminar. They should register through any of the following: www.anabelleadershipacademy.com, www.nigerialeadershipsummit.com, www.facebook/anabelleadershipacademy.com, Twitter: @anabelleader, Linked-in:anabel leadership academy. Call: 01 2771388, Email: info@anabelleadershipacademy.com      
Other details will be made available later.


Gabriel Ndu
Communication Secretary
to the Vice-Chancellor

Invitation to the Nigerian Prize for Literature Award Ceremony
I am directed to inform the University community that the award ceremony for the 2012 Nigerian Prize for Literature would be taking place at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The winning novel is On Black Sisters’ Street by Chika Unigwe, an alumna of this university.
Chika Unigwe is a well decorated writer who has a bag of many prizes and fellowships to her credit, including: 2003 BBC short story competition, Commonwealth short story award, the Flemish literary prize for short story, 2007 UNESCO Aschberg fellowship for creative writing, and 2009 Rockefeller Foundation fellowship for creative writing.
Also expected in her entourage are: Ngozi Achebe, the author of Onaedo: the Blacksmith’s Daughter, and Olusola Olugbesan, the author of Only a Canvas.
The event, which will be broadcast via live network on radio and television, is open to writers, book lovers, Nigerian students, and others who consider Dr Chika Unigwe a good role model.
The event is scheduled as follows:
Date:         29th January, 2013
Venue:      Princess Alexandra Auditorium, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Time:         9am prompt

The Head, Department of English and Literary Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Nicholas A. Akwanya is by this notice inviting the University community to attend the home- coming event of one of her distinguished alumnae.

Gabriel C. Ndu
Communication Secretary to the Vice-Chancellor

Invitation to the Nigerian Prize for Literature Award Ceremony

I am directed to inform the University community that the award ceremony for the 2012 Nigerian Prize for Literature would be taking place at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The winning novel is On Black Sisters’ Street by Chika Unigwe, an alumna of this university.

Chika Unigwe is a well decorated writer who has a bag of many prizes and fellowships to her credit, including: 2003 BBC short story competition, Commonwealth short story award, the Flemish literary prize for short story, 2007 UNESCO Aschberg fellowship for creative writing, and 2009 Rockefeller Foundation fellowship for creative writing.

Also expected in her entourage are: Ngozi Achebe, the author of Onaedo: the Blacksmith’s Daughter, and Olusola Olugbesan, the author of Only a Canvas.

The event, which will be broadcast via live network on radio and television, is open to writers, book lovers, Nigerian students, and others who consider Dr Chika Unigwe a good role model.

The event is scheduled as follows:

The Head, Department of English and Literary Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Nicholas A. Akwanya is by this notice inviting the University community to attend the home- coming event of one of her distinguished alumnae.

 

Gabriel C. Ndu

Communication Secretary to the Vice-Chancellor

The Vice-Chancellor's Address to the Press held to mark the Commencement of 42nd Convocation Ceremony
Equipment Procured within the Period
Completed Projects at the University of Nigeria
On-Going Projects at the University of Nigeria

UNN Alumna Wins Nigeria Award for Literature

An alumna of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Chika Unigwe has emerged the winner of the 2012 Nigeria Prize for literature award sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited. The Award winning book is titled; “On Black Sisters’ Street” with the theme of trans-Atlantic prostitution.

 
The award was presented to Chika at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium and theatre, UNN, in a public ceremony organised by Nigeria LNG in partnership with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Bartho Okolo, thanked Nigeria LNG for choosing to host the event in the alma mater of the awardee. He said that over the years, alumnae of the University had distinguished themselves to prove that success was not an exclusive preserve of the male folk.

“Hardwork and excellence are not the exclusive preserve of one gender. That is what great lionesses have proved all these five decades of the existence of the great University of Nigeria.

Dora Akunyili has proved it, Oby  Ezekwesili has proved it, Prof. Mrs Okeke has proved it  and today Chika Unigwe has also proved it. It is also noteworthy that for the last two consecutive sessions at the University of Nigeria,  female students had emerged the best graduating students of the year, that is evidence of the indefatigable spirit of the Lionesses”, he said.

Prof Okolo, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Prof. Isaac Asuzu, expressed the belief that the celebration of Chika would inspire students of the University, particularly the female ones. He urged the young ones to tow the footsteps of the likes of Chika in order to be celebrated.
Also in his remarks, the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi said that the celebration was not only for Chika but a celebration of the process of change which had started in Nigeria.

He said that Nigeria was passing through bad times because it had spent its time and resources celebrating criminality and rascality, while the real people who were supposed to be celebrated were left unsung.

The Governor expressed the commitment of his administration to celebrating and encouraging scholars and literary giants of Anambra extraction as a way of discouraging criminality in the state.

Mr. Obi promised to provide a piece of land and build it to house a centre for creative writing in the state. It is his belief that the centre will create and nurture future writers like Chika Unigwe.

Further, Governor Obi said that he was thrilled and happy that Miss Oluchukwu Roseline Ejindu, who was the best graduating student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in the 2011/2012 session, comes from Anambra state.  In the spirit of rewarding excellence, he announced that Anmbra State government will support and train Miss Ejindu to any level of her choice in any part of the world.

He enjoined indigenes of Anambra to strive for excellence in whatever they do; and reeled out a long list of “firsts” that come from Anambra State in different professions. 

Also speaking, the Managing Director of Nigeria LNG, Mr. Babs Omotowa, appreciated the authorities of the UNN for allowing LNG to partner with it in hosting the event. He noted that the choice to host the celebration at the UNN was based on the fact that the winner of the award, Chika Unigwe and the runner up, Ngozi Achebe, were both alumnae of the University.

Mr. Omotowa noted that LNG instituted the award in order to provide role models for the youths. He added that the award was also “a true breath of fresh air in a country where heroes, heroines and role models have all disappeared, and were stars of reality shows are more appreciated.

“This ceremony serves to assure all of us that we have not been completely overrun by the far ranging mediocrity running far in our land”, he said

The Managing Director remarked that Nigerian Prize for Literature, which was started in 2004, had grown to become one of the most prestigious awards for writing in Africa.      
 The award winner in her acceptance speech titled “Discovering Magic”, thanked her lecturers in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, for laying the foundation in creative writing and said she was happy to join the league of winners of the prestigious LNG award.

 She however lamented the low quality of education in Nigeria at the moment, and wished that in the years to come; the standard of education would improve and become a reality to every willing Nigerian.

The writer who had won many awards including; 2003 BBC short story competition, Commonwealth short story award, the Flemish literary prize for short story, 2007 UNESCO Aschberg fellowship for creative writing, and 2009 Rockefeller Foundation fellowship for creative writing, prayed that schools in the country be provided with functional libraries.

According to her, that would provide opportunities for young Nigerian girls and prevent them from becoming like the girls portrayed in the book “On Black Sisters’ Street” who were forced into prostitution by the vicissitudes of life.

A number of prominent Nigerians, including past winners of the award, enjoined young students to emulate the example of Chika Unigwe in their various good will messages delivered during the ceremony.

Inya Agha E.  

Maku lauds UNN on infrastructure Development

The Honourable   Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku has commended the current administration of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bartho Okolo, on the development of infrastructure and improving on the existing ones in the University.

 The Minister, who was at the University, recently, as part of his good governance tour in Enugu state, was conducted round the Nsukka campus by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Prof Isaac Asuzu, who represented the Vice-Chancellor.

After viewing some of the on-going and completed projects, the Minister noted that a lot of development had taken place in the University since the last time he visited.
“Let me commend the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, I was here in 1988, I know this is a different place than what I saw. Then, most of the buildings were virtually collapsing; I saw paintings that had not been changed for ten to fifteen years.

“But today, I can see that almost every building on this campus has been touched; hostels, faculty buildings and new structures, are all looking different. That is the kind of thing we should appreciate”, he said.

Maku lamented that past military regimes in Nigeria brought about the collapse of the university system as they encouraged migration of Nigerian scholars to Western and Eastern countries in search of a greener pasture.

 However, he noted that there was a gradual and steady recovery process pursued by the Federal Government, which if not interrupted, would restore the lost glory of the education sector.

On the problem of funding in universities, the Minister acknowledged that the universities needed more funds for optimal performance, but said that the National Economic Council (NEC) was working on a grand scheme to generate more funding for universities from both private and public sectors.

Further, Maku bemoaned the security challenge in the Northern part of Nigeria, he said if not for the security problem, the huge resources the Federal Government had spent trying to restore normalcy in the region, would have been alternatively applied to close the gaps in the education sector.

    
But the Minister expressed confidence in Nigerian Universities, stating that even at its present level; their products still hold their feet in global competitions.
He therefore urged Nigerians to recognise and encourage the process of change that had come to stay in the country.

Inya, Agha E