How is Anchor University working on becoming a top University in Nigeria?
Many people make mistakes and think the excellence of a university is due to the enormity of the population. It is not correct. Others can also think that a university that is disproportionately in size with other universities should not also compete. The common factor among all universities says that it is a citadel of knowledge deliberately designed to do in-depth teaching of students to conduct research and to impact the society, which is to influence the society around them. And the way Anchor University is going, in some few years’ time it is being positioned to become a top 5 ranking university in Nigeria because of all the parameters and indices for being recognized globally as a university that is what we are pursuing, the best practices and to influence the society around them. Some of the yardsticks are the environment. There is what we call institutional accreditation from the NUC aside from programme accreditation. Radically, we are building on that in terms of beauty, in terms of modernity, the classrooms and the environment, In terms of infrastructural development, resources in classrooms and laboratories. On the caliber of our staff, we are passionate about employing highly rated members of staff. We have lecturers publishing in Q1 journals. In terms of research, we also excel in the entire nation; we are the one who have a space laboratory that is globally recognized. We have active, working collaborations with top rated universities in western world which has yielded dividends.
What are the challenges you face in office?
The challenges are the common ones in society. We have the challenges of unstable power supply and power supply is not constant, it becomes an issue for us. Some students don’t feel comfortable not having consistent power supply. However, we have overcome that by investing in other sources of power. Also, part of the challenge was to motivate my staff to greater excellence in view of our vision to be the Top 5 University in Nigeria. There is a difference between a public university and a private one. Even among private institutions, there is a difference between a faith-based private university and one which is not faith-based. So as a faith-based university, we are positioning ourselves and making extensive collaborations with western universities. Challenges come from time to time and we face it and tackle it. Here, we strive to do better in all we do.
How can Nigeria fund its Universities?
Thank you for this, the issue of funding is a continual challenge every university management faces as there are always scarce resources. What to do as a nation is first of all to have a vision of where you want our universities to be, a short term and a long-term plan. This plan will shape the action or the policy to be put in place. It must be said that the Government can do more in funding the universities as we need to benchmark ourselves with other top African countries in the area of funding and development of research and other factors of growth in a university. Education ought to be a priority for all citizens at different levels and we can devise a plan on how best to fund our institutions- state and federal universities, and position them to produce world class graduates.
Nigerian Students Honoured With Scholarships In US, Canadian Varsities
BY HENRY TYOHEMBA, Abuja
Over 14 students of the Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC) have bagged scholarship awards from top universities across USA, Canada and South Africa to study different courses.
One of the students, John Paul Akhator won a 104,000 USD scholarship in Computer Science at New York Institute of Technology, USA, while Emmanuel Demilade won 160,000 scholarship in Engineering at University of Maryland, USA.
The management of the school said the student’s outstanding achievements illuminate the school’s commitment to nurturing brilliance.
The students are; Kamsiyochukwu Obum-Mmeka, 96,000 USD to study Engineering at Duquesne University, USA, Barakah Akandeh, 15,000 euros, Computer Sciences, University of Applied Sciences, Germany, Khadijah Aminu Mukhtar, 62,000 USD scholarship in Engineering, Suffolk University, USA, Samuel Ziyok, 76, 000 USD scholarship in Computer Engineering, Marywood University, USA, Izuchukwu Okafor, 40,000 scholarship in Mechanical Engineering, Stony Brook University, USA.
Others are; Isaac Chibuike Anthony-Iwelu, 12,000 USD scholarship in Biomedical Engineering, Carleton University, Canada, Ganiru Evergreen, 30,000 USD, African Leadership Academy, South Africa, Nora Koko Easier, 21,000 USD, Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, USA, Abdulsalami Oyindamola Fatuga, 13,000 USD, Computer Sciences, Carleton University, Canada, Jamil Gasali, 12,000 USD, Computer Science, Northern Illinois University, USA, Fawaz Agoro, 21,000 USD, Computer Science, Arizona State University, USA, Abdulhalim Akinlisu, 20,000 USD, Computer Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, USA.
Speaking on the achievement, the Managing Director of the school, Mr. Feyzullah Bilgin, said it’s has implemented a series of innovative programmes that have garnered widespread recognition and the students’success.
“Here, we delve into some of NTIC’s standout programs that have been instrumental in shaping the success story of this esteemed institution.
According to him, one of NTIC’s standout programmes is the “200 Essentials, a visionary initiative mandates that every student, from Nursery to SSS 3, reads a carefully curated selection of 200 books.
The programme, he said goes beyond the traditional curriculum, nurturing a love for reading and fostering critical thinking skills in students from a young age.
Bilgin also said it has adopted consultation time, which help to foster individualized learning.
“NTIC understands that every student is unique. To address the diverse needs of its learners, the school introduced “Consultation Time.
“After lessons, students have the opportunity to meet with their teachers to discuss any areas of difficulty. This personalized approach ensures that no student is left behind, enhancing comprehension and overall academic performance.”
He further said the school has enforced “Preps,”a dedicated study sessions that provide students with a structured environment to focus on their coursework while assigning gender-based guidance teachers to each class.
Adding, he said NTIC has placed a strong emphasis on teacher development through the Teacher Knowledge Test (TKT) where Faculty members take termly qualifying tests to enhance their professional competence, fostering a culture of continuous self-improvement and resourcefulness among educators.
He said “To prepare students for the UTME examination, NTIC has implemented a robust JAMB Success Program. Starting as early as SSS 1 and continuing through SSS 3, this program equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in this critical examination.
“Through visionary programmes like the “200 Essentials,” “Consultation Time,” and “JAMB Success,” NTIC has positioned itself as a pioneer in the field of education in Nigeria. The school’s dedication to nurturing not only academic prowess but also emotional and psychological well-being sets it apart as a shining example of educational excellence,” he added
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