VC AE-FUNAI PAYS COURTESY VISIT TO CHARGE DE’ AFFAIRS UKRAINIAN EMBASSY TO NIGERIA
The Vice-Chancellor, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba, recently paid a courtesy visit to the Charge de’ Affairs (Ambassador) of Ukraine to Nigeria, Mr. Serhi Yushkevych to discuss matters of interest to the University.

At the meeting, Prof. Nwajiuba made proposals on issues of importance for the advancement of the world class vision of the University and mutual benefit of the country and the institution, including exchange programme for staff and students of AE-FUNAI with selected Ukrainian Universities, award of scholarships to the University staff for MSC, Ph.D and Post Doctorate Programmes in selected Ukrainian Universities, support from Ukrainian Government and investors in the area of agricultural extension services for the university, to make the institution a major agricultural producer, such that it can feed staff, the host community and the South-East geopolitical zone at large. VC also presented Ukrainian Embassy the opportunity to endow a professional chair in AE-FUNAI. He expressed happiness over what the embassy is doing in Nigeria, declaring his interest to collaborate and partner the embassy. Prof. Nwajiuba did not forget to commiserate with the Ambassador over the recent air mishap in Iran in which 176 passengers travelling in a Ukrainian air bus were involved.

In his response, Mr. Serhi Yushkevych, thanked Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba for the visit, expressing his willingness to collaborate and partner the University and asked that a formal letter be presented to the Embassy on the subject matter, pointing out major areas of interest for deliberation of Ukraine Agency.


Representatives of Sumy State University and VC AE-FUNAI Team in a group photograph

In another development, Vice-Chancellor’s entourage, comprising Messrs Chris Uwadoka, Acting Director, Centre for Development Assistance Management, Partnership and Training(CEDAMPAT), Ejike Uchegbu, SA to the Vice-Chancellor on Partnership/Private Sectors and Embassy and Mr. Samuel Olurunsola, Representative of the University Bursar, met with Mr. Olena Nedryhailo, Official Representative of Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Nigeria (UCCI) and Representatives of Sumy State University, Ukraine. While in the meeting, representatives of Sumy State University did not hesitate to announce their interest to collaborate and partner the University, stating that Sumy State University, Ukraine was already in collaboration with Bingham University in Nasarawa State, Nigeria and wished to enter into such partnership with AE-FUNAI. To that effect, the Vice-Chancellor asked them to make a formal proposal to Office of the Vice-Chancellor, AE-FUNAI, indicating their areas of interest, after which Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be drawn for further actions. The Sumy University team also informed the Vice-Chancellor that they have an Online-Programme Model for interested students who might not be able to travel to Ukraine to study. They expressed profound gratitude to Prof. Nwajiuba and his team for paying them the visit.