Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State is set to benefit from two intervention projects of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

This was made known yesterday by the Head, Development Finance Office, Central Bank of Nigeria, Abakaliki branch, Sir Chijioke Ahuakagha, when he led a team of the apex bank officials on a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Sunday Elom.


Head, Development Finance Office, Central Bank of Nigeria, Abakaliki branch, Sir Chijioke Ahuakagha presenting the apex bank’s letter of intent to the VC, Prof. Sunday Elom during the visit
He explained that the Development Finance Office is a Unit of the Development Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), adding that the Office is in charge of all the interventions of the apex bank in Ebonyi State.



He maintained that under the leadership of Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the CBN is partnering with Nigerian universities through two schemes, which include Tertiary Institutions Entrepreneurship Scheme and Tertiary Institutions Poultry Revival Scheme, noting that AE-FUNAI has been selected as one of the benefiting universities.

Speaking further, Ahuakagha noted the Tertiary Institutions Entrepreneurship Scheme is geared towards engendering a paradigm shift in the university system by equipping students with specific life skills to be self-reliant on graduation. Through the scheme, he continued, the CBN provides funding and also equips the Centre for Entrepreneurship in universities to enhance their capacities to train students in practical skills.


VC, Prof. Sunday (C) in a group photograph with Head, Development Finance Office, Central Bank of Nigeria, Abakaliki branch, Sir Chijioke Ahuakagha and his colleague Mrs. Adaku Anyanwu during the visit
Similarly, the banker staid the Tertiary Institutions Poultry Revival Scheme is meant to boost poultry production in the Agriculture value chain, adding that it is also to foster local innovation and enhance the capacity of local people in poultry production. The cardinal objective, he said, is to improve food security, enhance the research base and employment opportunities among the citizens.



He further revealed that the fund available for the tertiary institutions poultry scheme is about Four Hundred Million (N400, 000, 000), stressing that it could be used by any benefiting university to start new poultry farms (Greenfield) or for the revival of already existing ones (brownfield).


VC, Prof. Sunday Elom (on white) and some members of Management in a group photograph with the CBN team led by Head, Development Finance Office, Central Bank of Nigeria, Abakaliki branch, Sir Chijioke Ahuakagha (4th L)
The Vice-Chancellor, who was excited by the news, noted that AE-FUNAI is a relatively new university that needs such interventions to be able to fulfill her mandates of teaching, research and community service.



He also stated that the objective of the University is to graduate students with the functional knowledge and sellable skills to be relevant and productive in a globalized economy.

Prof. Elom further stressed the importance of the two schemes in actualizing the vision of the University even as he promised to do everything to ensure the University benefits from it.

He also observed that the University already has a functional Centre for Entrepreneurship and Employability, and two poultry farms that are under construction. And thanked the Central Bank of Nigeria for choosing the University as one of the beneficiaries of the schemes.