Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, has inducted 212 new students during its second matriculation ceremony.
Speaking during the event, vice chancellor of the university, Prof. Carl Adams, said the institution has fully integrated technology and skills into all its academic programmes to bring out the best in students.
“We have developed a whole bunch of new technologies. We’ve got seven patents on the go, and we’re not even two years old yet. But what that means is that we’re bringing the best technologies, the best learning materials, the best facilities to support our students,” he said.
Carl, who is a renowned academic in Artificial Intelligence (AI), said the move would not only make products of the university to be highly impactful but will also reposition Nigeria in the area of technological development.
“So it is not borrowing other people’s technologies, it is developing the technologies here. We want Nigeria to be at the forefront of technology development and application development using those technologies. So technology on its own is just a paperweight.
“It is how you use it, and that is what we are embedding, those skills, how to use that technology. So whether that be 3D printing, designing innovative products,” he said.
While saying that the university is engaging in cutting-edge research in various academic fields, including space technology and sickle cell , among others, the VC said the University has stood out in the area of satellite technology and artificial Intelligence deployment, among others.
Also speaking at the event, the Pro-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Ibrahim Katampe, said the institution which commenced academic activities in 2024 with the admission of 58 students, has witnessed a massive growth within a short period, hence, it will soon be expanding its operations.
“We have to expand but our expansion is very strategic. In a few months, because our student population is increasing, we will be moving some courses to our Jahi property, and within the next month, we will begin the development of our permanent site at Idu. We have 100 hectares of land, and it is very strategic -by the airport,” he said.
Katampe, who said the university has strategic partnership along the health and allied sciences, said such agreements with institutions like University of Portsmouth, National Hospital, Abuja, among others, would ensure the students, particularly those in nursing and other related medical programmes get the best training.
Speaking further, the pro-chancellor said the university, as part of its global relationships, had recently secured funding from major international organisations.
“We have gotten seed funding from European Space Agency which is based in UK, and other seeds funding to enable us do what we are doing,” Katampe said, adding that some of the students of the institution will be going outside the country to China and Europe for a short period for academic activities.
“Starting from this year some of our students will go to China for three to four months – this is a global engagement,” he said.
Earlier, the registrar of the university, Dr Mani, said Cosmopolitan University is fully committed to equipping its graduates with relevant skills.
” The University aims to equip our graduates with the necessary skills that will prepare them for the 21st century job environment, whether as employers or labour entrepreneurs or people that actually want to make a difference in their society.
“The mission of the University is to expand knowledge through research integrated with education and active engagement with industry and society,” he said.
Chancellor of the University, who chaired the occasion, Alhaji Nu’uman Barau Danbatta, expressed delight that the institution is living up to expectations by fostering academic excellence in its education delivery.
Represented by a member of the University’s Board of Trustees, Mr Dayo Elliot Babatunde, Danbatta said the deployment of innovative teaching methods and AI, as well as supporting the academic community, would equip students with all the required skills.
On his part, the Guest of Honour and Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Zaphaniah Jisalo, commended the university for becoming a beacon of academic excellence.
Jisalo, who said President Bola Tinubu has taken several positive measures aimed at turning around the fortunes of the nation’s education sector, advised the matriculating students to focus on their studies.
“The journey ahead will be challenging but will be rewarding,” he said adding that
“the future of our great nation depends on you.”
The high point of the event was the administering of the matriculation oath to the new students by the registrar of the University, Dr Mani.
