₦airaland Forum

https://www.funai.edu.ng/news/management-and-organization-review-appoints-ae-funai-don-member-of-its-editorial-board/

A Professor in Human Resource Management in the Department of Accountancy and Business Administration and Director of Internationalisation, Linkages, Advancement and Global Ranking at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI), Ebonyi State, has been appointed to the Editorial Board of Management and Organization Review(MOR), published by Cambridge University Press.
Management and Organization Review is a far-reaching multidisciplinary social science journal that seeks to publish papers that test theory, develop indigenous theories, explore interesting phenomena or research questions, replicates prior studies always in the context of transforming economies. The journal is internationally recognized as a leading outlet for management and organizational research in China and all other transforming economies. MOR welcomes papers from diverse social science disciplines such as organisational behaviour, organisational theory, strategic management, economics, economic geography, innovation theories, anthropology, political science, cross-cultural, and social psychology, international business, sociology, cognitive science, and institutional theory.
MOR Editors are especially interested in attracting and publishing forward-looking papers that break new ground, rather than papers that make incremental contributions, as well as papers that elucidate indigenous management theories. MOR is open to diverse and rigorously executed research methodologies, including qualitative research, surveys, archival and historical analyses, content analysis, laboratory experiments, simulations, and computational methods, as well as papers that synthesize or translate theories and empirical research that make research accessible to scholars outside of disciplinary sub-fields.
The journal is index and abstracted in Thomson Reuters (Clarivate Analytics), Scopus amongst other database. Professor Icha -Ituma will join an editorial board drawn from across the world including academics working in universities in North America, Europe and Asia.
Speaking on the rare opportunity, he noted that he was naturally thrilled about the opportunity to join the MOR’s editorial board, adding that “Serving in the Editorial Advisory Board of the prestigious MQR is a great privilege. It represents a great opportunity for me to work more closely with leading scholars in cross-cultural management and to contribute to pioneering ideas in this field. I am particularly keen on attracting submissions to the journal from Africa and using the editorial experience within my role at FUNAI”.
For details about the journal, please log on to:
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/management-and-organization-review

https://www.funai.edu.ng/news/2018-ana-funai-international-conference-creative-workshop/
THEME: Expanding Frontiers: Nigeria’s Creative Writing in the 21st Century
Deadline for submission of abstract and early bird registration is May 2018
Date
June 18-19, 2018
Starting at 9am, and closing 4pm
Location
Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo,
Ebonyi State, NIGERIA.

Please everyone should note that I, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba, VC FUNAI, is not on face book, twitter, whatsapp, or any of such.

I am harassed by so many persons who say they have been scammed by persons nestinteractiveall over the country who claim me, and that they should pay money for all kinds of things including employment.

I repeat, I am not on any social media.

Anyone who allows himself or herself to be deceived into making payments to fraudsters should blame himself or herself.

Anyone who knows me, must know that I will never ask anyone to pay money for anything.



Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba
Vice-Chancellor
Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, 
P.M.B. 1010, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
chinedum.nwajiuba@funai.edu.ng, chnwajiuba@yahoo.de
tel. +234-8033273871
www.funai.edu.ng

and
Member, Board of Directors,
Nigerian Environmental Study/Action Team (NEST)
1, Oluokun street, Off Awolowo Avenue, Bodija, Ibadan, 
P.O. Box 22025 Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
www.nestinteractive.org,www.nigeriaclimatechange.org

The Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State has elevated five of its academic staff that have distinguished themselves in their various disciplines to the professorial cadre.
The University Governing Council at its 11th Regular Meeting held on Thursday, March 15, 2018 considered the recommendations of its Appointment and Promotion Committee and approved the promotions of the affected staff.
The breakdown of the list shows that Dr. Afam Icha-Ituma was promoted to the rank of Professor with effect from 1st October, 2017. While Dr. P. C. Obidike, Dr. E. N. Anyaegbunam, Dr. Charles N. Okolie and Dr. Nnenna N. Nwosu all were promoted to the rank of Reader with effect from 1st October, 2016.
Meanwhile, the Council at the same meeting also approved the termination of appointment of twenty-seven (27) academic staff with effect from 30th March, 2018. Ten of the affected staff were shown the way out of the university as a result of gross misconduct while the remaining seventeen (17) staff were Graduate Assistants who failed to obtain their Master’s Degree Certificates within the stipulated three (3) years of assumption of duty.
The University Governing Council had at its 6th regular meetings held on 21st December, 2016 resolved that: ‘any Graduate Assistant who does not secure/obtain Master’s degree within three (3) years from the date of assumed duty in the University would have their appointment terminated’.
In a letter dated 21st March, 2018 signed on behalf of the Registrar by Mr. Vitalis Offor, the affected staff were directed to handover all university property in their possessions, including their staff identity cards to their respective Heads of Department before their final exit.

https://www.funai.edu.ng/news/list-of-candidates-offered-provisional-admission-into-postgraduate-programmes-for-20172018-academic-session/
Click the above link to view the list lof candidates offered provisional admission into postgraduate programmes for 2017/2018 academic session in FUNAI

The Centre for Development Assistance Management, Partnership and Training (CEDAMPAT), Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State in partnership with the Ikwo Local Government, recently organized a sensitization Programme for food vendors and handlers in the area.
Declaring the event open, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba who was represented by The Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Charles Okolie noted that the sensitization Programme was very relevant because of its health benefits to Staff and students, and the various food vendors and handlers as they carry out their eatery businesses within and around the university community.


He maintained that the sensitization programme became imperative because of the various reports of food poisoning among staff and students as a result of dirty environments and unhygienic way of food preparation and handling by the vendors. He therefore, urged the participants to listen attentively in order to note and imbibe good food hygiene techniques that could be employed in preparing and handling food in their various restaurants.
The Vice-Chancellor also used the opportunity to plead with the Executive Chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area, Hon. Elder John Nnabo to use his good office in ensuring peaceful co-habitation between the university and its host community, adding that the sensitization progamme was one of the ways the university is impacting positively on the Ikwo community as part of its community service initiative.
Expressing his happiness on the Food hygiene sensitization programme, Elder Nnabo pointed out the importance of hygienic food in sustaining life, stressing that when contaminated, food could also become harmful to health. He therefore, urged the food vendors to be careful in preparing and handling their food and other eatable materials in order to protect the lives and health of their customers.


He emphasized that food vendors had a role to play in helping to produce eligible graduates from the university, tasking them to always source for clean water for their cooking activities. He further enjoined them to also ensure cleanliness in their line of business to avoid flies and other disease-carrying pathogens in their business environment, adding that the importance of food hygiene cannot be overemphasized, as many people have lost their lives due to food poisoning.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Jacob Anyigor of the Health Department, Ebonyi State Ministry of Health, Abakaliki said that there were pathogenic organisms that contaminate food prepared in unhealthy environments. And urged the participants to always go for a biannual medical examination to ensure they were fit to handle food for public consumption. He also stressed on the importance of clean environment in food preparation and handling, advising the participants to endeavor to prepare fresh and nutritious food and to abstain from using expired food items and condiments which could be poisonous and damaging to the human system.
The health officer further urged the participants to observe effective personal hygiene as food handlers and to endeavor to wear aprons, hair tie and gloves when preparing food. He also warned them to desist from indiscriminate sneezing and coughing while cooking, urging them to stay at home if sick until they were fully recovered and fit for business. He rounded of his presentation by making a clarion call on the participants to also ensure effective disposal of waste emanating from their activities on daily basis.


Earlier, the Director of CEDAMPAT, Mr. Chris Uwadoka, noted that the event was to keep the staff and students as well as other members of the university community free from food-borne diseases, by educating the various owners of eateries, restaurants and ‘mamaputs’ within and around the university on the ways of preparing and handling food to make it hygienic for public consumption.
He further expressed his appreciation to the Ikwo Local Government for agreeing to be part of the sensitization programme, adding that the Centre would continue to explore other possible areas of partnership that could be of mutual benefits to the university and its host community.
The event was spiced up by an interesting and enlightening drama performance from the Theatre Arts Drama group that pointed out the dos and don’ts for food vendors and handlers.

The Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba, yesterday, commissioned some engineering equipment donated by the university’s Engineering Parents’ Forum.
The FUNAI Engineering Parents’ Forum is an umbrella body of all parents and guardians of students of the University geared towards fostering cordial relationship between the institution and parents of its students. The body since its inception has been of great help to the university in trying to bridge the infrastructural gaps as it concerns engineering programmes.


It is in view of this that the Forum recently provided some vital engineering equipment to the university, to ensure that the students were given proper education, practically and otherwise in order to make them viable engineers on graduation.
Expressing his gratitude to the Forum for their support, the vice-chancellor, Professor Nwajiuba noted that the provision and installation of the needed equipment and tools in the engineering workshop by the Forum was a testament to the importance of the association in the affairs of the university. He maintained that with the availability of the equipment students of the faculty would now be exposed to the dynamics and practical aspects of their studies, and reiterated his commitment towards ensuring that the faculty turns-out employable, vibrant and practical-oriented engineers on graduation.


He also urged the lecturers in the faculty to brace up to the challenges of training 21st century engineers, not just those with certificates but those with the functional knowledge and practical skills to contribute to the infrastructural development of Nigeria. And stated that the idea of engaging engineering students in the ongoing fencing of the university was informed by the need to expose them early in life to the practical aspects of their intending profession, adding that the experience they would garner through it is worth the effort.


Earlier, the Chairman of the Forum, Engr. Oga Chidi Onwe thanked the vice-chancellor for initiating the idea and supporting the Forum to work without any inhibition, stressing their continued commitment to the growth and development of the university. He further expressed the support of the Forum to the university management in its quest to train their children and wards to become viable engineers.


The Chairman also used the opportunity to call on other parents and guardians that are still skeptical about the importance of the Forum to the university to have a rethink and support its activities, adding “it is to the benefit of our children and wards to support the vice-chancellor and the university management to give them the best academic training.”

As part of its community service, the Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State recently organized a one-day sensitization workshop for members of its host community geared towards equipping farmers with new techniques for ensuring high productivity and maximum output in their farming activities.
Organized under the auspices of Faculty of Agriculture in collaboration with the Ecosystem Based Adaptation Farming, an arm of United Nation’s Environmental Protection Agency and Ebonyi State Government, the programme afforded local farmers the opportunity to learn new farming tips meant to increase their yields.


Declaring the event open, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba who was represented by the Director of Academic Planning, Professor Dr. Johnny Ogunji called on the participating farmers to imbibe integrated farming, by rearing animals and breeding chickens that would in turn churn out saleable platform for mass production of maggots which would enhance production of fishes and aquaculture.


He also stressed the importance of producing earthworms in large quantities to help activate soil nutrients, pledging the university’s commitment towards advancing their farming activities if called upon.
Earlier in his welcome address, a leader of thought in the host community and the Principal and Proprietor, Folk Technical College, Chief Ambassador Francis Eze Igwe appealed to the farmers to embrace new farming technologies so as to improve their harvest and revenue from their agricultural activities. He further thanked the university management for taking interest in the welfare of its host community, adding that such gestures would promote peaceful coexistence between them entities.
Speaking at the event, a Professor of Agro-Business, J. O. Alimba unveiled the numerous benefits of organic fertilizers in farming, urging the participants to shun inorganic fertilizers as it contains chemicals that are destructive to both soil nutrients and important bacteria needed for boosting farm outputs.
Alimba maintained that through the right application of organic fertilizers and irrigation, farmers could plant crops all year round, noting that Thailand as a nation produces rice three times a year with maximum export capacity.

The Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Dr. Christiana Igberi in her remarks noted that the faculty would continue to partner with local farmers in Ebonyi State as part of the university’s community service to help them reap the benefits of modern farming. She maintained that Ebonyi State being mainly an agrarian area, would benefit from the various plans of the faculty towards running a production-driven Agriculture programmes, urging the various stakeholders in the State to key into the university agricultural plans.

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The Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State is determined to graduate technically sound, vibrant and employable engineers with the capacity for global competitiveness.
This was made known by the coordinator of the on-going Engineering Students Skill Enhancement Programme, “Fencing the University project” and Head of Department of Chemical Engineering, Dr. Cyril Ume who noted that the programme was geared towards equipping students of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology with hands-on skills and experience in the area of construction.

He described the scheme as novel in the history of Nigerian universities, adding that it was also meant to produce vibrant engineers who are practically-oriented, technically and academically sound to compete in the world market, and thanked the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba for buying and supporting the idea with the enabling environment and resources.

Speaking on the sustainability of the project, the Head of Department of Mechanical/Mechatronic Engineering, Professor Simon Neife noted that the engineering students’ skill enhancement programme would be a continuous programme because it is meant to build the practical capacities of students to make them employers of labour on graduation in their respective specialist areas.
On the reaction of students to the programme, the Head of Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Dr. Ngozi Eli-Chukwu stressed that the students were enjoying the project because of its overwhelming benefits. She further maintained that those who were initially skeptical about it have now realized its importance and were happily participating in it.
“It is interesting. Students have been excited. Initially in my department, Electrical, they were asking what is the relationship between fencing work and electrical?
“And I quickly said something to them. For you to do a design of electrical work you must understand what you are designing and we majorly do building design of electrical work. If you understand how the wall is being built, you will do a proper design.
“When they got to the site, even those who were scheduled for four hours continued with the exercise even when their time had ended. What it entails is that they are enjoying it. And it is going to be beneficial to both the students and the university image”, Eli-Chukwu concluded.



Through this noble project, students of the faculty of engineering are undergoing practical guidance and tutelage in construction, leading to the on-going perimeter fencing of the university. This project is a first of its kind in the history of Nigerian university system, as it presents ample opportunity for the students to understand and appreciate the practical aspects of their discipline, thereby preparing them ahead of time to face the challenges of life after graduation.
Some of the participating students who were interviewed were visibly happy, noting that the experience they have garnered since the commencement of the project has been worthwhile, memorable and goes beyond the daily lecture hall routine.


Chibuilke Onuorah of the department of civil engineering stated that the project has been awesome, thanking the faculty for the worthwhile idea. He also noted that the programme has made him a better person, enabling him to have real life work experience as a prospective engineer.
When asked by the Vice-Chancellor if she had told her parents about the on-going project, Agwu-Oke Chidinma Jane, 300 level Chemical Engineering female student answered in affirmation, adding that she had already sent the pictures of her activities in the project to her parents and uploaded same on the social media with lots of likes and commendations.
On the whole, the students are really having ‘fun’ contributing their quota to the development of their university. And in the years to come, it would be evident that they did not just pioneer the fencing of their university but also garnered unquantifiable practical engineering experience in the course of it.



Recall that the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nwajiuba had on assumption of office vowed to ensure that engineering graduates of the university were properly honed and equipped with the functional knowledge and practical skills to meet the demand of the 21st economy. He has also maintained that he would not rest on his oars in building the capacities of students to make them responsible, employers of labour and employable on graduation, stressing the commitment of the university towards turning out engineers with practical knowledge and skills in order to carve a niche for the university in the field.

In a bid to run a functional and practical-oriented Faculty of Agriculture geared towards equipping students with hands-on knowledge and entrepreneurial skills to make them employable and employers of labour on graduation, the Federal University Ndufu-Alike recently sent two of its staff on a tour of the Songhai farm located in Porto-Novo, capital of Benin Republic.
The essence of the tour was to study the internal workings and dynamics of the popular integrated zero waste operating system farm in order to replicate same in the university. The Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship and Employability, Professor Chinyere C. P Nnorom and Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Dr. Christiana Igberi were sponsored by the university management to the farm to have a firsthand experience in order to proffer ways of transferring such technologies to the university.


The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba had on establishment of the Faculty of Agriculture vowed to run a different kind of Agriculture programmes, where students are imbued with functional knowledge and practical skills to make them productive on graduation. He therefore charged the faculty board to ensure that students were made to go through the rudiments of practical farming so that they can learn by doing.
Consequently, the Faculty of Agriculture embarked on school farming, cultivating cucumber, pineapple and rice, and marketing of the produce; thus availing the students the opportunity to go through the necessary practical experience in crop production and agribusiness.
Speaking at the end of the tour, Igberi noted that the Farm operates three major groups of activities namely Production Vegetale, Production animale and Pisciculture, adding that the three are interconnected and interdependent for the farm’s sustainability.


In her words: “Each one develops its product to value addition stage including outlet for marketing. However, at the end, the by-products of all the three are harnessed to generate energy for use by the entire farm and the environment.”
She continued: “It is of interest to know that from nursery production to processing (value addition), marketing to consumption, no product is wasted, hence the name zero waste. The different sections housing several items are purposely connected together for the singular aim of utilizing both the processed and the by-products.”
She further revealed that the Farm is willing to collaborate with the University in replicating their farming technology and model in the university, which according to her were natural, simple and cost effective and could be easily adopted. And thanked the Management for the exposure they gained through the trip.
Adding her voice Nnorom stated: “The vegetable production supply feed for the animal production while the animal dungs and poultry droppings together with vegetables and other plants are used to prepare compost manure used to grow crops such as maize, cucumber, cowpea, soybean, pawpaw etc. The vegetable and animal sections are also used for fish production.” She also stressed that at the end the vegetable, animal and fish productions are transformed to generate bioenergy for the farm and its surroundin

The Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State is to partner the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State in multi areas that cover Research, Agriculture, Staff and Students’ Training and Agricultural Research Proposal Development.
This was made known recently when the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba visited the institute to discuss possible areas of mutual beneficial partnership between the two organizations.


Welcoming the FUNAI delegation, Dr. Kenton Dashiell, the Deputy Director General of the institute, noted that there were many possible areas the two organizations could collaborate. He stressed that the vision of IITA was to transform agriculture in Africa, adding, that with no staff in Ebonyi State, IITA can only impact farmers in the State through Partnerships, thus emphasizing the importance of a possible partnership with the university.
Speaking further through Dr. Robert Asiedu, R4D Direct, West Africa in company of Dr. Alfred Dixon, Director, Partnerships for Delivery Office and Dr. Michael Abberton, Head, Genetic Resource Center, the Deputy Director General pledged to partner with the university in different areas of mutual interests especially in moving Agriculture and Agricultural research forward in the southeastern part of Nigeria, especially in Ebonyi State.


Given the low level of improved cassava adoption in the southeast, he also expressed the commitment of IITA towards making FUNAI its partner in extending cassava technologies (under TAAT) in the region, adding that the institute would participate in the upcoming international conference on hidden hunger to be held in the university this year. He also noted that IITA would collaborate with the university for the purpose of extending improved varieties of seeds and other Agricultural technologies to the southeastern part of Nigeria.


The Deputy Director General further promised to link the university’s Directorate of Research and Development with IITA Project Development Unit and equally give the University access to its e-library, urging the university to also set up units in charge of technical, legal, and financial services in proposal development and project implementation, if not yet on ground, for easy collaboration between the two organizations.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nwajiuba expressed his appreciation to the institute’s management for their willingness to collaborate with the university. He also used the opportunity to inform them that the Faculty of Agriculture in the university was new and at the stage where it is necessary to set the right culture for it.

“It is with a view to do things differently that FUNAI desires to collaborate with IITA in capacity building of staff, training of students, and extending agricultural technologies to farmers. We are young, we are open to new ideas and we are willing to learn”, he concluded.

He further assured the institute that FUNAI has enough farmland for collaborative partnership on Agricultural trials, adding that the University is also currently working on its policy on commercialization of technology.


The Vice-Chancellor was accompanied to the visit by the Director of Academic Planning, Professor Dr. Jonny Ogunji, Dean of Faculty of Agriculture, Dr.Tina Igberi, Director of CEDAMPAT, Mr. Chris Uwadoka and Dr. Makuachukwu Ojide of the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences.

The research contingent of the Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State to the recently concluded 2018 National Technology and Innovation Expo has presented their award to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba.
The University at the exhibition held from 5th to 9th March, 2018 at the Eagles Square, Abuja came third in the category of tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The intellectual works and innovations of the university researchers were adjudged by the organizers as novel and outstanding, making the institution to receive positive peer, media and industry reviews and commendations.


Presenting the award to the Vice-Chancellor at an event witnessed by members of the enlarged university management, the leader of the FUNAI Team to the exhibition and Director of Research and Development, Professor Onuegbu O. Ugwu extolled his commitment and unalloyed support to research activities in the university, thanking him for sponsoring the research team to the expo despite obvious financial constraints.
He assured the Vice-Chancellor that the lessons learnt at the expo would be put into good use in order to make the university a hub of production-led research in Nigeria. He also called for the continued support of the university management in the areas of research funding, noting that individual researchers cannot bear the full financial weight of their research works alone, and promised to ensure that the university attains the first position in subsequent exhibitions.


On that note the Director of Academic Planning, Professor Dr. Jonny Ogunji pleaded with the Vice-Chancellor to facilitate the adoption of the draft policy on research which the directorate has prepared, stressing the importance of financial support to university researchers to enable them conclude their works on time.
Other speakers at the event noted that the performance of the university at the yearly event was extra-ordinary, taking into cognizance of the fact that it is barely seven years old. They equally urged the university management to give special incentives to researchers to keep them functional and productive.


Expressing his happiness on the feat achieved by the university contingent at the expo, the Vice-Chancellor maintained that research should be conducted for development purposes and not as a mere academic exercise meant to receive promotions at work place. He further promised to liaise with Management and Governing Council to get special financial support for outstanding university researchers, admonishing them not to rest on their oars in order to be the best in their respective fields.

History was made at the 2018 National Technology and Innovation Expo held at the Eagles Square, Abuja as the Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State came third among all tertiary institutions in Nigeria. With the theme “Fast-tracking Sustainable Development in Nigeria through Science and Technology”, the event brought together exhibitors from different sectors of the Nigerian economy who were on hand to showcase their scientific, technological and innovative products to the public.


The Expo held between Monday, 5th to Friday, 9th March, 2018 was the 2nd edition of the event geared towards assessing and bringing to the fore the various innovations and technological contributions of the Nigerian scientists, technologists, researchers and entrepreneurs to its economic development. It also provided an avenue to review the technological innovations of Nigerians in order to ascertain the gaps, make it globally competitive and proffer the way forward for the country’s sustainable development.
The University was represented at the exhibition by a strong 9-man team of researchers drawn from the fields of Science, Engineering and Humanities, led by the Director of Research and Development, Professor Onuegbu O. Ugwu. Nevertheless, the university presented five innovations from which it was adjudged the third best innovative tertiary institution in Nigeria in 2018, coming behind Covenant University and Nigerian Defense Academy, who came first and second respectively.

FUNAI Research Contingent to the 2018 National Technology and Innovation Expo at Abuja
The five works presented for assessment at the national event were ‘Linquascript: Applying Science to Develop Rapid Functional Literacy’ by Dr. Nnenna Nwosu-Nworuh; ‘Development of a Fuzzy-Neural Expert System for Contagious Disease Detection and Isolation’ by Engr. Dr. Michael Osigbemeh; ‘Probiotic Potential of Nigerian Fermented Food; Pentadethra Macrophylla (Ugba)’ by Dr. Moses N. Aloh; ‘Ecotoxicological Assessment and Agricultural Benefits of Rice Husk Derived Biochar’ by Dr. Ihuoma Anyanwu and ‘Consumer Credit, Accessibility and Affordability in Nigeria: Bank-led Financial Inclusion Strategy’ by Dr. Onyebuchi Chima. Other FUNAI researchers at the event were Dr. Chukwunonso E. C. C. Ejike, Dr. Azubike Ebokaiwe, Dr. Makuochukwu Ojide and Mr. Ukwa Job Nworie.
The works of the university contingent to the expo were highly rated by the organizers’ team of assessors, the media and industry watchers who commended them for their novelty and the high socio-economic impact value of their works. The team of assessors led by the former Director General of Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Professor Peter Onwualu, in particular, commended the FUNAI researchers for their outstanding works, urging them to ensure that their intellectual property were patented to avoid people stealing their novel ideas. They further noted that patenting research works proves its originality and gives sponsors, partners and industrial watchers confident to collaborate with researchers.


At the closing ceremony, the research work of Dr. Nwosu-Nworuh, “Linquascript: Applying Science to Develop Rapid Functional Literacy” was announced by the organizers as an outstanding innovation in the tertiary institutions category. Announcing the prize, the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology through Professor Onwualu extolled the originality and impact-value of Nwosu-Nworuh’s work, noting that it would help to enhance the functionality of the three major Nigerian languages. He further pointed out that when eventually incorporated into computer keyboards and phone keypads as envisaged by her, the work would improve the speaking and writing of the indigenous languages among the youth and uneducated population especially now that some of the languages are going extinct. They further stressed that the work would put Nigeria on the global map as computer keyboards and phone keypads would now bear the alphabets of Nigerian indigenous languages.


Speaking to the media during the 5-day event, the FUNAI Director of Research and Development, Professor Ugwu noted that the Expo would help in enhancing science, technology and innovations in Nigeria, calling on the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to sustain the yearly technological and innovation exhibitions in order to put the country on a higher developmental pedestal.
He pointed out that the philosophy of research in the university was to think globally and act locally, stressing that all the research works presented by the university at the expo have the capacity to meet international standard even as they also have high local content value and added that FUNAI would continue to make the environment conducive for research and innovation to excel.


He maintained that “the era of carrying out research as only a mere academic exercise without corresponding economic and production value is over”, insisting that “value-driven research is the way to go if the is to compete favourably in the global community.”
The professor of Civil Engineering further urged the Federal Government and various tertiary and research institutions to take research and innovation seriously by investing a substantial part of their budgets in it, noting that the Expo has helped to put research in the front burner in Nigeria.



He further vowed that in the third edition of the Technology and Innovation Expo in 2019 that the university would come first in the category of tertiary institutions, stating that plans were already in top gear to put into action the lessons of the 2nd edition. And thanked the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba for supporting research in the university and sponsoring the institution’s contingent to the expo despite the financial constraints facing most Nigerian universities, noting that the research team has reciprocated the confidence reposed on them by marking the university proud, being the only Federal and State-owned university in Nigeria that won award at the event.

Receiving the third position award at the just concluded National Technology and Innovation at Abuja

compare both pictures,,why the false propaganda?

more pics of the current state of the University

more uploading

more pic swill be uploaded soon

The Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State is one of the nine universities established by the Federal government on February 26th, 2011 to expand the frontiers of education. However, the University started academic activities on November 5th, 2012 with three faculties.

Presently, under the leadership of Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, the University has seven faculties, a college of medicine and a postgraduate school. The university prides itself as the Home of Soaring Eagles with the vision of becoming a world-class university.

The university has become a first-choice academic destination for both parents and students because of its core values of excellence, integrity and entrepreneurship. Students are groomed to acquire sellable skills and functional knowledge to be globally competitive.

Academic laziness, indolence, cultism, examination malpractice like "sorting", sex for marks and the likes are seriously frowned at. Students who do not meet the acceptable GPA are sent home at the end of every session while some are put on probation. FUNAI remains one of the few universities still doing this. The essence is to make students to be serious-minded and put in them the culture of hard work and responsibility.

FUNAI is ranked highly by global academic bodies like webometric. Nevertheless, because of its insistence on academic excellence and integrity, some students bad eggs are not happy about it. But the university is not deterred by their antics. The university is irrevocably committed to doing things right in order to turn out competent, enterprising and loyal citizens as graduates.

Infrastructurally, FUNAI is also on the right trajectory, with new buildings, roads and quarters springing up with speed in order to give our students the best. Though, FUNAI is just seven years old, however, it is already been ranked above its peers and many older universities in Nigeria, leading to many fruitful collaborations with international bodies like the one with the French government- a first of its kind in the history of Nigerian University system.

Recently, the Federal Government renamed it after the late former vice president of Nigeria, Alex Ekwueme.

Welcome to FUNAI of our dreams, the centre of excellence and integrity, and the Home of Soaring Eagles. The place where students graduate on schedule. And you can vouch for their certificates.

I write to notify you of the FUNAI Postgraduate screening test which has been scheduled to hold as follows:
Date: Friday, 2nd March, 2018
Venue: ICT Laboratory (Take off) site
Time: 9:00am

Applicants are to pay the sun of Three Thousand Naira (N3,000) only as screening fee to any bank through Remita and present their tellers on the screening day.

Singed
Prof. K. N Nwogu
Dean, SPGS

I write to notify you of the FUNAI Postgraduate screening test which has been scheduled to hold as follows:
Date: Friday, 2nd March, 2018
Venue: ICT Laboratory (Take off) site
Time: 9:00am

Applicants are to pay the sun of Three Thousand Naira (N3,000) only as screening fee to any bank through Remita and present their tellers on the screening day.

Singed
Prof. K. N Nwogu
Dean, SPGS

FUNAI, recently renamed Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo is one of the fastest growing in Nigeria with a history of turning-out graduates that are globally competitive. That is why most parents and guardians want their children and wards to study in the University. In fact, the University insistence on zero tolerance to cultism, examination malpractices and other social vices makes it a heaven for serious-minded students through-out the country. It is because this great history of excellence and integrity that made the French Government to collaborate with the university, providing postgraduate scholarships to staff of the university. The partnership is a first of its kind in the history of Nigerian university system. If the university is not on the right trajectory the French Government would not have signed off on such laudable partnership with it. It is therefore unfortunate for someone to try to tarnish the image of the university through what you posted on nairaland. Even the webometric rankings of world universities have continued to acknowledge the successes of the university over the last 7 years it was established. On the area of infrastructure, the university is getting better, with modern roads with streetllights but because the you were trying to be clever by half you systematically overlooked those areas in pursuit of your jaundiced agenda. It does not matter what 5th columnist like yoy and their outside collaborators do, FUNAI is on its way to becoming a world-class university. World class is nothing just about the building but about the quality of its products- graduates to compete globally. Its about the functional knowledge and selleable skills which FUNAI offer, that are the difference. On the damaged roofs which you snapped, you will agree with me that there was a heavy rain and wind in the last 3 days which destroyed things around Ebonyi state, not just FUNAI and I know the physical planning Unit is rectifying them. If you are really a student, you would have been focused on the ongoing examination in the university instead of wasting your precious time in the social media. Remember, if you do not make it academically you would be shown your way out as was the case last year when over 200 students were expelled for poor academic performance. That is FUNAI for you and most of us students love it

The idea could not have been novel given that many other institutions at different cadres, have tried it out for the same purpose. But the uncommon passion and commitment; the fresh urgency in its execution and of course the almost unanimous agreement it has gathered among the university community, clearly sets it out as a unique initiative aimed at quickening the pace of development in the Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo, otherwise known as FUNAI.


Unlike other institutions where this practice is in vogue, the authorities of FUNAI, though the initiators of the idea, are detached from the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes enunciated by the forum to accelerate the development of the University and offer a new lease of life to students of the institution.


Welcome to FUNAI PARENTS’ FORUM, a platform wholly committed to raising funds to assist the University in view of paucity of funds in public owned universities in the country. Worried by the absence of basic amenities that should aid students in the acquisition of knowledge on campus, FPF came in to bridge the gap. With a mission and vision encapsulated in the school’s anthem of producing only the best, Forum has set out to make the difference and serve as a model to other schools struggling under economic strangulation evidenced in infrastructural deficits.



However, both the parents and the students who are the major beneficiaries of this initiative have to thank the present management of FUNAI headed by Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba for floating the idea and backing it with the support that has sustained it so far. Although the idea was mooted in December 2016 by the then newly appointed Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nwajiuba after a careful stock taking of the challenges facing the school viz-avis availability of finance, the FPF Board was actually inaugurated in January, 2017 and it commenced work immediately after it was approved by the University Governing Council.


According to the Chairman of the Forum, Prof. Sam Igwe, their mandate was clear: to assist the University in any area of need subject to the capacity to raise the funds. In other words, from the word go, there was to be a synergy between the FPF and the management so as to avoid areas of conflict and duplication of efforts. According to Prof. Igwe, the first task was how to raise the funds while the second was to identify areas of need and prioritize them accordingly. This is geared towards securing a better future for their children by offering them qualitative education in a serene environment.



It was based on that conviction that they sent a proposal to the management of FUNAI that every fresh man and woman should pay a security levy of N50, 000 while returning students pay N5, 000 each. Compared to the relatively low fees paid by students in FUNAI as against what private universities charge, that was just a token provided the management of the fund was transparent and the managers, men and women of integrity.

But they didn’t contend with the reaction of the students who felt they were shut out from the conceptualization stage. In fact, the President of the Students’ Union Government in FUNAI, Comrade David Okafor said their initial reaction was that of indignation because they were not initially consulted. According to him, notwithstanding that the students were the core beneficiaries of the scheme; they ought to have been carried along in the formulation and implementation of the policy. Comrade Okafor who described the scheme as wonderful, however, acknowledged that after a joint meeting with the FPF, the students were better informed and thereafter gave their blessings.


However, he noted that the students have made some suggestions on how best to carry them along for the smooth implementation of the scheme. He said the levy should be spread into two semesters for the new students and that under no account should any fresh student be denied registration or hostel on account of the nonpayment of the levy since they will all eventually comply with it.


Comrade Okafor was however very happy with what the FUNAI Parents Forum has done with the money so far realized. He said they have taken delivery of more than 100 seats provided by the body, thus ending the nightmare of sourcing seats by the students. He also confirmed the erection of perimeter fence around the vast areas of the school to enhance security, ward off herdsmen as well as checkmate land speculators.


While lending her support to the scheme, the Assistant Secretary of the Students’ Union Government, Comrade Iwu Ebubechi Felicita said the students were grateful to the school’s management and the board of FPF for the projects they have undertaken so far and urged them to do more. She however emphasized the need for students to be more involved in decisions concerning the administration of the fund since they were the major contributors and since some of their parents were not always around to make their own contributions during meetings.


However the coordinator of FUNAI Alumni Office, Miss Eucharia I. Nwonu who doubles as the secretary of FUNAI Parents Forum, explained that it was not the fault of the body that some parents don’t get directly involved in what is happening regarding their activities. According to her, whereas it was expected of every student to provide the phone numbers of their parents/guardians for easy reach, majority of the students default on that. In fact, she alleged that some students provide wrong phone numbers and in some instances give their own phone numbers in place of their parents, thus frustrating the efforts of the Forum to invite parents for meetings.

But she was emphatic that the forum has received the overwhelming endorsement of parents such that many of them turn up for meetings and have even gone ahead to ensure that whatever levy is requested is promptly paid. Miss Nwonu further explained that the overriding objective of the Forum is to ensure that whatever laudable policies and programmes that the management of the school comes up with are supported not only morally but financially. She said there is probity and accountability in the administration of the funds with the forum having a free hand in its administration. She commended the parents for their positive attitude which is responsible for the execution of the projects so far undertaken by the forum.


Indeed, the Chairman of the forum, Prof. Igwe is emphatic that those projects would not have been possible without the cooperation of the parents and their wards. He said the Governing Council of FUNAI not only approved the establishment of FPF, but has through the management, been supportive of their programmes. Prof. Igwe explained that so far, the forum has provided 100 standard lecture seats for students at the cost of N3million and is currently building a 505 meters long perimeter fence across the campus. According to him, 300 meters have already been completed while the projected cost for the project is N10million. Also in order to assist the junior workers live on campus and enliven the place, the forum plans to build a 10 two bedroom bungalows for them. One of the bungalows, he said, has been completed at a cost of N7million, while work will commence on others this month. This will enable some interested staff have conducive accommodation on campus, making the campus a virtual community.


What would be the modalities for the allocation of the building when all are eventually completed? Prof. Igwe said that that was not the headache of the forum. “When we finish, we will hand them over to the management of the university. They will know how best to handle them” he said. But what he is certain of is that the concerns of the students as represented by their leadership are being addressed. He noted that since the students were integral part of the scheme, it was only natural for them to be apprised of happenings both in the generation and administration of funds by the forum. He noted that although the forum is relatively independent, it still consults widely with management, parents and students in all its operations. He acknowledged in particular the role of Students Union Government in the dissemination of information to their members, especially in the defense of decisions taken by the forum, and pledged to always work with them.


The SUG president, Comrade Okafor assured that in so far as the union is carried along in an open and transparent manner, it will help put the members in check. He admitted that some students were not too truthful with their personal data, especially phone numbers of their parents, but added that they were also students who cater for themselves and should therefore be rightly adjudged as parents and given all the rights and privileges due their parents. He however made it clear that no student was against the scheme, which he noted, was introduced by the present management for their (students) own welfare. He commended Prof. Nwajiuba and his management team for what he described as their open door policy of administration and urged them not to deviate from it.


In his reaction, the Dean of Students Affairs, Dr. Charles Nkem Okolie emphasized that although the Vice Chancellor initiated the idea, the parents were at liberty to accept it or not. But he was happy that they not only bought into it but have been enthusiastic in its implementation seeing the benefits accruable to their children. He said as a young university battling several challenges, it was virtually impossible for the authorities to cater for every of their needs, hence the invitation to parents to assist. “Now students no longer run around looking for blocks as seats to take lectures”.


He said many parents made remonstrations to him regarding the porosity of the university campus which made it dangerous for students to freely operate without molestation. Dr. Okolie noted that the parents saw the need for the fencing of the school and voluntarily undertook the exercise to the benefit of all members of the University community. He insisted that the authorities have no influence over the Parents Forum except to collaborate with them in areas of need as may be found fit from time to time.


On the initial agitation by students towards the levies agreed by the parents, Dr. Okolie attributed it to misinformation and ignorance. He said contrary to the submission of some of the students, the levies were actually agreed upon by the parents and not the school authorities. He said that in fact some of the students after being given the money by their parents feel reluctant to release same for the purpose for which it was meant. He was however happy that such misconceptions have now been cleared and that the students were enthusiastically embracing the scheme. Dr. Okolie who appealed to parents to take a closer interest in the development of their children assured that FUNAI was more than poised to make all her students the soaring eagles both while in school and outside. He said his office was ever open to take complaints, suggestions and other ideas on how best to strengthen the relationship between students and the authorities on one hand and between the parents and management on the other.

On the future of the FUNAI Parents Forum which has just marked its one year of operations with fluttering feathers on its cap, Prof. Igwe, the chairman said what has happened so far is just the beginning of a new tiding that will eventually sweep across other universities. “I believe that many more positive developments are in the offing in FUNAI through this body. But my advice is simple: “Watch and See!”

As we watch and see on how the parents of students of FUNAI and indeed the management are focused on not demeaning their humble beginning but are dreaming to capture the sky as Eagles through their accomplishments, it won’t be a bad idea if other parents take a trip to FUNAI to see how the human mind is doing extraordinary things in such a simple, ordinary and collective means for excellent result.

VC. Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba in a group photograph with some members of the FUNAI-PARENTS FORUM led by their Chairman, Prof. Sam Igwe

The Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, in a recent enlarged university management meeting composed of Deans of faculties, Directors and Heads of academic Departments and Units as well as the executive of all staff unions in the university presented his administration’s 2 years scorecard.
The event which took place at the Senate chamber was to mark his second year in office, also availed members of the university community the opportunity to interact with the vice-chancellor on his achievements so far even as they also used the occasion to set agenda for him in the remaining three years of his tenure.
Speaking on his administration’s numerous achievements in the last 2 years, Prof. Nwajiuba reiterated the remark he made when he assumed office as the second substantive vice-chancellor of the university in 2016, saying “I have come to work and make friends. At the end people will look back and say of a truth that a child of God has passed through this place.”


The Vice-chancellor noted that one of his greatest achievements so far was the change in the attitude of staff and students, adding that unlike when he assumed office people now appreciate that benefits must go with responsibilities. He maintained that though it is still work in progress, however both staff and students were now exhibiting ‘ownership spirit’ in the discharge of their various responsibilities in the university.
He further highlighted some of his landmark achievements to include the establishment of new faculties and academic programmes, maintenance of the academic calendar which has made the university to graduate students on time and mobilize them promptly for National Youth Service Corps, yearly organization of the university’s convocation ceremony and issuance of certificates to graduands, galvanizing of the FUNAI Parents’ Forum to support the infrastructural development of the university, massive change in the university environment, construction of the first sets of asphalt roads in the university, which in his words has drastically reduced the health hazards faced by students due to dust, international collaboration with the French government which has given postgraduate scholarship opportunities to 35 staff of the university in internationally acclaimed French universities, construction of the first Engineering workshop and attraction of Federal government intervention programmes through Ecological Fund, National Office for Technological Acquisition and Promotion, National Centre for Remote Sensing, Rural Electrification Agency to the University and so on.


Indeed, Prof Nwajiuba’s achievements in the last two years are legendary. This has catapulted the university to greater heights, way above its contemporaries in the comity of Nigerian universities. The university presently ranks well in the biannual webometric ranking of world universities and is also presently visible across the world. More so, the university prides itself as the ‘Home of Soaring Eagles’ with emphasis on quality research, effective teaching and learning experiences and people-oriented community service.
In their separate responses to the Vice-Chancellor’s address, the Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences and Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), FUNAI Branch, Dr. Ogugua Egwu maintained that Prof. Nwajiuba’s achievements are visible, open and transparent, drawing an allegorical conclusion to a bangle on a wrist that does not require mirror to view. Also, the Director, Center for Educational Services, Prof. Michael Onuu, Director, Center for Internationalization, Linkages, Advancement and Global Ranking, Dr. Afam Icha-Ituma and Dean Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, Prof. Philip Umoke, Director of General Studies, Prof. Christiana Ugodulunwa, Director of Health Services, Dr. Henry Aloh and many others including the President of Nigeria Academy of Science, Professor emeritus Mosto Onuoha and the various union leaders eulogized the vice-chancellor for his vision, dedication, forthrightness and open-mindedness in piloting the affairs of the university, enjoining him to consolidate and continue in the same pedestal to make the university attain greater heights.


The highlight of the event was the airing of a video clip produced by the Public Relations Unit that showcased the achievements of the Vice-chancellor in the last two years.

L-R: Registrar, Mrs. Odisa C. Okeke, VC, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba and Chairman, NASU, FUNAI Chapter in a toast during the event

The Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State has matriculated over 2, 000 students for the 2017/2018 academic session.
In a matriculation ceremony held recently to usher in the freshmen into the seven faculties and college of medicine of the university, the Vice-chancellor, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba noted that the students were admitted based on their successes in O’ Level examinations, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations, as well as the assessment/Post-UTME screening exercise, urging them not to joke with the rare opportunity given to them by the University.
He stressed that out of more than 12,000 applicants who made the University their first choice institution in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination only over 2,000 were admitted to study in the University after going through its Post-UTME test and meeting the other requisite admission criteria.
The Vice-chancellor further enjoined the students to work hard in their studies by attending lectures, doing their assignments and participating actively in all their academic activities to avoid the consequences of academic failure.
“It is painful to note that of the 1,750 students that we admitted in the 2016/17 session, about 232 were asked to withdraw and another 218 sent home for a year at the end of the session for reasons of poor academic performance”, he stated.

He continued: “We expect this set to be different. To be different, you have to focus on the main purpose for your coming to FUNAI. You are here simply to study. Every other thing is secondary. Work hard and behave well, and you will be successful. In the university you must pass every course you register. This is not a secondary school where you may fail a subject and still move on. I reiterate, you must pass every course you register. You must also attend lectures as attendance to lectures is a prerequisite to sit for examinations.”
Charging the students to shun social vices, the vice-chancellor maintained that the university has zero tolerance to cultism, examination malpractices, sorting, sexual harassment, indecent dressing, stealing and other unwholesome behaviours, warning that culprits would be fished out and sent home. He also informed them that the foundation of the university was built on excellence and integrity, adding that lecturers are not allowed to sell hand-outs while recommended books were only to be purchased in the university bookshop. He equally assured them of a serene and conducive learning environment as the challenges faced by their predecessors have been arrested.


For their contribution to the infrastructural development of the university so far, the vice-chancellor appreciated the role of FUNAI-Parents Forum in providing lecture chairs, housing for junior staff, and fencing of the university environment to ensure security of lives and property on campus, and called on other investors to partner the university in other rewarding areas.
In his words: “We must build a university campus that is secure and inspires us to excel. That is why you must appreciate the little sacrifice by the FUNAI-PARENTS FORUM in form of security contributions for what it is; seeds being sowed for a better future. If we do not develop our own, who will do that for us? I therefore charge you to imbibe the spirit of FUNAI.”
One of the defining feature of this year’s matriculation ceremony, just like last year, was that the event was decentralized and faculty-based, allowing each faculty to conduct their respective ceremony.


VC, Prof Chinedum Nwajiuba and Dean,Faculty of Education,Dr Chinyere Nwajiuba in a group picture with some matriculating students of the faculty

FUNAI Parents Forum, the umbrella body of parents/guardians of students of the Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State has commended the development efforts of the Vice-chancellor, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba in providing the needed infrastructure and conducive learning environment for students; making the university one of the most sought-after tertiary institutions in Nigeria presently.
The parents made their views known during a town hall meeting held recently as part of the 6th matriculation ceremony of the university.

Expressing their joy and gratitude for the rapid turnaround recorded in the university in the last two years especially in the area of internal road network, the parents extolled the vice-chancellor and members of the management for making the university look much better in comparison to what it used to be.
“We appreciate the Management for the changes in the environment”, a parent noted.

A female parent acknowledging the difference made by the vice-chancellor in the area of road construction during the town hall meeting
“I am amazed by what I have seen today. Last year, the dust was unbearable but now tarred roads everywhere”, another parent stated enthusiastically.
“Thank you sir, for not just improving the environment of the university, but also ensuring that the students are serious-minded. Now my son has the desire to read and study hard unlike what it used to be before he entered FUNAI”, a visibly happy parent also said.

There were wild applauses when the vice-chancellor assured them that before the next matriculation ceremony, the university would have made more gains in infrastructural development, academic expansion and other important areas that would impact positively on the lives of students on campus.
Meanwhile, the vice-chancellor also used the opportunity to thank the Forum for their contributions in developing the university, especially in providing lecture seats for the students, fencing of the university environment to ward-off the menace of herdsmen and other intruders, and the construction of junior staff quarters to make the university a virtual community.

“We are concerned about the security of our students. So thank you for the fencing that is going on”, the Vice-chancellor noted, pledging “on our part we will continue to treat them like our biological children.”
Professor Nwajiuba also used the opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of the university towards academic excellence and integrity, maintaining that the institution would continue to do the right things in order to turn-out graduates people would be proud of.
“We are laying proper foundation. Though we are young but I heard we are doing well. We want to turn-out people we can be proud of. We have kept to our academic calendar. Our lecturers do not sell hand-outs. Recommended books can only be bought in the university bookshop. Our language Enhancement Programme is to get your children trained to be able to speak like university students. And we are very strict on sexual harassment”, he said.
He maintained that the university is geared towards training students who would be employable and employers of labour on graduation, stressing “we are not joking here.”
Finally, the vice-chancellor solicited for the continuous support of the Parents Forum, taking cognizance of the fact that the university cannot do it alone, vowing to ensure that all their contributions were channeled to the development of the institution.
After the event at the university auditorium, the vice-chancellor also witnessed the constitution of the FUNAI College of Medicine Parents’ Forum, with the self-mandate of getting endowment funds to support the development of the College. Recall also that the Faculty of Engineering and Technology had established its Parents’ Forum, which has continued to help the Faculty through the provision of some important scientific and technological equipment.

All the supports and contributions from these strategic stakeholders of the university underscores the confidence they have on the ability of the vice-chancellor to channel useful energies and resources into tangible results, for the speedy development of the institution.

The 2nd batch of staff of the Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State, who benefited from the international scholarship agreement between the University and the French Government through the embassy of France in Nigeria and Campus France, is set to leave for their respective world-ranking French Universities on Sunday, 11th February, 2018.
This hint was dropped by the Coordinator of the FUNAI – French Collaboration, Dr. Nnenna Nwosu-Nworuh when she led the beneficiaries on an appreciation visit to the Vice-chancellor of the university, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba.

She noted that eleven staff of the university would be embarking on the journey to pursue doctoral programmes in different French universities and research institutes, stressing that on their return to the university after the completion of their studies, they would play pivotal role in revolutionizing teaching and research in Nigeria.
In her words: “Today we have 11 staff going for PhD to world ranking universities and research institutes. Permit me to present to you the future ‘academic artillery’ that will revolutionize teaching and research in Nigeria upon their return to our dear University.”
She further thanked the vice-chancellor for his selfless vision and service to the university especially in the area of human capital development which made him to support the scholarship initiative.
The benefiting staff include: Ogechi Nwogu, Omabe Kenneth, Arinze Nwadiogo, Ijeh Ikenna, Ugochukwu Onwudebelu, Gbenro Folarammi, Kasali Suraju, Jude Ozor, Archibong Friday and Egwu Chinedu.
Bidding the doctoral scholars farewell, the vice-chancellor, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba reinstated his utter commitment to the development of the university by paying adequate attention to staff capacity building programmes, urging the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of the University and the country.
He urged them to take their studies seriously, as they would have no excuse to fail; adding that their performance and attitude while in their various universities would determine the reception the next batch of staff would receive in France.
Recall that in January 2017, the university signed a postgraduate scholarship agreement with the government of France, with the first batch of scholars numbering nine leaving for France in November 2017.

VC, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba, Registrar, Mrs. Odisa C. Okeke, Bursar, Alhaji Rafiu Aliu, Director, CEDAMPAT, Mr. Chris Uwadoka, Coordinator of FUNAI – French Collaboration, Dr. Nnenna Nwosu-Nworuh and the benefiting staff after their thank-you visit to the Vice-chancellor

The entire university community and indeed the general public are hereby informed that the 6th matriculation ceremony of the institution will still hold tomorrow, 8th February, 2018 as scheduled.

All freshmen are to converge at their respective faculties for procession by 10 am.

Note that any contrary information in respect to the matriculation ceremony is mere rumour, and should be disregarded.

Thank you.

FUNAIPRO

In a bid to ensure and sustain a campus that is free from all forms of sexual harassment, the Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State, recently held a sensitization workshop on sexual harassment for staff and students. The workshop was organized by the University Committee on Sexual harassment. The Committee is one of the first Committees the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba constituted on assumption of office, underscoring his goal of running a university devoid of sexual harassment.


Sexual harassment has been described as one of the worst cankerworms bedeviling the Nigerian education system, with serious consequences on the victims, culprits and image of affected institutions. This informed the enactment of the Sexual Harassment Act of 2016 by the federal government with dire consequences on anyone found guilty of the offence. In fact, the Act stipulates a 5-year jail term for offenders and a 2-year imprisonment for Vice-chancellors and Heads of other tertiary and sundry institutions that fail to act after 2 weeks of receiving a harassment complaint.
Welcoming the participants to the event, the Chair of University Committee on Sexual Harassment, Dr. Ngozi Nwudu noted that the sensitization programme was initiated to move the wheels of sanity in the University. She maintained that the event was to create awareness on the evils of sexual harassment, adding that it has become a menace in institutions of higher learning in Nigeria.
She therefore urged staff of the University to serve as parents-in-loco to the students that were entrusted into their care instead of taking undue advantage of them. She also cautioned the students against exhibiting actions that could predispose them to any form of sexual harassment on campus.
“…Do not intimidate the students and do not lure them into sexual immorality by virtue of your position as a lecturer. Do not sexually harass any student in exchange for scores or threat of failure”, she stated.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion and the Director of Academic Planning, Professor Dr. Jonny Ogunji stated that the sensitization program was informed by the need to get the new students of the university acquainted with their new environment, and giving them the opportunity to arm themselves with useful information that could help them resist any form of sexual harassment on campus. He noted that FUNAI was aspiring to be a world-class university; therefore, sexual harassment is not tolerated in the institution at all.
Hear him: “Sexual harassment is against our laws, and students have the right to have education that is free from sexual harassment.”
He also cautioned the students against indecent dressing, prostitution, drug abuse, and other vices that could derail their goal of studying at the university and graduating at record time. He equally enjoined the staff to treat the students with respect and without exploitation, as anyone caught harassing students sexually would be made to face the full weight of the law.


Thought-provoking lectures were presented by some resources persons, all highlighting the dangers inherent in sexual harassment and the need to have a campus free from such menace. Dr. Nneka Onwumere of the University Medical Centre spoke on: “Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions: Myth or Reality”; Dr.Kelechi Johnmary Ani of the department of History and Strategic Studies/Philosophy delivered a paper on “Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions: Implications for Academic Performance”, while Dr. John Otu of the department of Languages/Linguistics/Literary Studies spoke on ‘Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions: Implications for Teacher – Staff Relationship and Self-Esteem.

Chair of the University Committee on Sexual Harassment, Dr. Ngozi Nwudu and FUNAI SUG President, Comrade David Okafor and some students on a campaigner against sexual harassment

The Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State recently held an orientation program for its 2017/2018 freshmen at the university auditorium. The orientation program which lasted for two days provided an opportunity for the freshmen to be acquainted with the history, dynamics, rules and regulations as well as other important aspects of the University.
Addressing the freshmen for the first time, the Vice-chancellor, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba said: ‘’I welcome you my beloved Children and Freshmen to Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo,I am indeed delighted to have you here and I assure you of a pleasant and fruitful stay as long as you remain obedient and diligent, abiding by the rules and regulations guiding this institution. You have at your disposal qualified personnel in both academic and non-academic fields to put you through your endeavors while on Campus.”

He noted that out of the eleven thousand plus applicants, they were the chosen few, urging them to breast up as the battle was not over yet, adding that the only way to success in this kind of institution is for them to study hard.
Hear him: “This is a no-nonsense school. Now let me shock you. In the last academic session, a total of two hundred and thirty (230) students were sent home and about two hundred and twenty five (225) students were placed on probation. So you see my children, the only option for you is to study hard; there is no other way out.”
Rounding off his speech, the Vice-chancellor further noted that FUNAI is the first and only university in the entire country whose students are sent for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program barely three months upon graduation and urged them to also engage in healthy extra-curricular activities on the campus like sports in order to keep a healthy life.

The Vice Chancellor who was earlier represented by his deputy, Professor Sunday Elom had stated that the university is a different kind of institution, where things are being done differently, stressing that the freshmen were lucky to be among the few who were chosen to study in the university after a very transparent selection process. He therefore urged them to take their studies seriously and shun such vices as cultism, examination malpractice, drugs abuse and the likes in order to excel academically. He further enjoined them to place God first in their lives for without Him they may not be able to far in life.
In his opening remarks, the Dean of student affairs, Dr. Charles Okolie urged the freshmen not to compromise their academic pursuit in any form as that was a quick ticket for either rustication or expulsion from the University.
He said: ‘’We sincerely believe that we have carefully selected you freshmen as the best from the bulk of other applicants, so I charge you to remain focused in your academic pursuit here in FUNAI-The home of soaring eagles. The orientation program is fully loaded to give u more insights on the rules and regulations guiding this prestigious institution and all you need to know about FUNAI.”

He maintained that FUNAI does not comprise on excellence and integrity, urging the freshmen to ensure they excel in their academics to avoid been placed on probation or sent home for poor academic performance, enjoining them to also ensure they exhibit good character as academic degree is awarded for both excellence in character and in learning.
Different papers were presented at the event to prepare the freshmen for a fruitful stay in the University. Some of the topics espoused include: An Overview of the University’s history, Organizational Structure and Other Relevant Matters.; How to use the University Library Effectively for Studies and Research; Security and Safety on Campus; How to make Good Academic Grades, SERVICOM and You, University Academic Rules and Regulations, Evils of Cultism, Drug Abuse, Prostitution and Other Vices; Sports in FUNAI; Ikwo people and their Culture and other mouth-watering presentation geared towards galvanizing the freshmen to be better and well-grounded students.
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A cross section of the freshmen sinking the university song during the orientation program