The American University of Nigeria (AUN) has now affiliated with the United Nations Academic Impact, a group of academic institutions that focus on world problems.
UNAI consists of nearly 1,000 colleges and universities in some 120 countries who are working with the united nations to promote global priorities. These include peace, human rights, and sustainable development, which have long been the focus at AUN.
Membership in UNAI will enable this nigerian university share its knowledge, its research, its expertise, and its programs with other universities throughout the world. Such networking often leads to unexpected gains for everyone, as successes in one nation can be duplicated elsewhere.
AUN has spearheaded efforts in local literacy campaigns, job training, recycling of waste products, and community development. Africa’s first “development university,” its mission closely fits with those of UNAI. Most recently, much focus has turned to helping nigerian refugees.
The Boko Haram attacks on civilians in the region have produced a massive wave of refugees, almost doubling the normal population of Yola, the Adamawa State capital and home of AUN. There are now more than 400,000 “displaced persons” in the city.
AUN, with its partner peace-building organization, the Adamawa Peace Initiative, has risen to the occasion. In the last few months, they have raised funds by appealing to public philanthropy–both in nigeria and internationally–to feed the hundreds of thousands of displaced; refugees are camping in various locations throughout the capital.
Many are being accomodated by the staff of the University in their own homes. Students, faculty, and staff of AUN have taken an active role in distributing food to the displaced. They have also opened their doors to faculty and students from universities destroyed in the north, so that education can continue.
It is hoped that membership in UNAI will not only help make the plight of the suffering in northeast nigeria better known, but provide a forum for sharing new development ideas and programs amongst educators throughout the world.


http://schoolannexblog.com/2015/04/american-university-of-nigeria-aun-joins-the-global-priorities-group/