FIRST NUC ACCREDITATION TEAM ARRIVES UAES, COMMENDS PROF C. C. EZE FOR HOSPITALITY

The first accreditation team from the National Universities Commission last Friday arrived the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES) Umuagwo, on a maiden accreditation of the Department of Biotechnology.

Led by Prof. Gbolagade Jonathan of the University of Ibadan, the three-man team paid a courtesy call on the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Christopher Chiedozie Eze in his office as a prelude to the accreditation exercise.

Welcoming his guests, Prof Eze described them as the first set team to knock on the door of the University, since there are other programmes lined up for accreditation before the end of the year.

Speaking further, the Vice-Chancellor stated that the visit of the team was a historic one because it was a maiden accreditation exercise for the programme that was first licensed by NUC three years ago.

In his words, "You are all welcome to this epoch-making event. You are literally the first to knock on our doors. Our University is a young one even though it is situated at an old academic ground that has been housing different institutions since 1958.

"By the grace of God, we have made some modest efforts in establishing viable linkages with some foreign institutions including Maejo University of Thailand, the largest Agricultural University in that country. We are open for scrutiny as there is absolutely no perfect system anywhere. We have a crop of young academics who are doing their best to groom young technocrats for the country. So feel free to walk around so as to engage meaningfully."

In his response, the leader of the team, Prof. Jonathan, thanked the Vice-Chancellor for the warm reception and hospitality. He made it clear that it was not all the time that Vice-Chancellors of Universities came in person to welcome accreditation teams as they were wont to delegate such responsibilty to any principal officer.

He applauded Prof Eze for personally coming to welcome them on their arrival, likening it to a similar reception at Baze University where the Vice-Chancellor (now Nigeria's Minister of Education) welcomed them with open arms when his team went to accredit the Biotechnology Department of the University some years ago.

Finally, he pledged to conduct a result-oriented accreditation exercise with his team. Other members of his team included Prof Paul Onyenekwe of the Nassarawa State University and Mrs Happiness Madu of the National Universities Commission.

Principal Officers present at the reception were Prince E. C. Njemanze (Registrar), Mr. Robert Anikputa (Bursar) and Prof. Chidi Nwosu (University Librarian).

Also present were the Dean of Science and Computing (Prof Chika Ogueke) the Director of Academic Planning, Prof. Vivien Iwueke and the Head, Department of Biotechnology.

(Copyright) UAES MIRROR 21 ^st NOVEMBER, 2023