Niger Republic varsity lauds FULafia for sustained cooperation

The management of Zinder University, in Niger Republic, has lauded the efforts of its Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) counterpart for promoting the values of education and relationship between the institutions.

The commendation was made when a delegation from the University of Zinder, led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Zakari Aboubacar, visited FULafia, recently.

The leader of the delegation, Aboubacar, however, said that he was not surprised with the way FULafia was administered and showed commitment to education and agreements because the University “has a very serious man as its vice-chancellor.”

He said that their visit to FULafia was a follow up to an earlier one made by the FULafia team in 2019 which led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the institutions.

He said that his team was in Lafia to discuss the extent of implementation of the MoU, review some areas and discuss challenges “that may have arose in the course of implementing the terms of agreement which is designed to last for a five years, although it can be renewed.”

Aboubacar said that FULafia was the only university that has shown commitment to the MoU signed with his institution, among many other universities, praising the management of FULafia for placing premium on education and agreements.

He described the agreement existing between the institutions as a symbol of teamwork, cooperation and respect, for especially education and our countries.

He said that “honouring agreements, which is what FULafia has done, can go far in helping to build trust among our people and to build relationship between our universities in a true spirit of good faith, partnership and mutual respect.”

To conclude their one-day visit to FULafia, the members of the team from the University of Zinder were driven around FULafia to have the opportunity to assess facilities at the University.

They, specifically, went to the French Department of FULafia, where interacted with some students who went on an exchange programme in the University of Zinder.

Aboubacar described the Vice-Chancellor of FULafia, Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, as an experienced university administrator who has made positive impact in the University within a short time of his administration.

“FULafia is, indeed, a very serious University from my little observation of the institution,” he declared.

The leader of the delagation expressed his team’s appreciation to their host for the warm reception given to them.

Welcoming the visitors to FULafia, Prof. Shehu Abdul Rahman said that linkages and collaboration were key priorities of his administration, noting that the University would continue to respect agreements it had freely entered into.

He expressed happiness that the officials from Zinder were in Lafia to discuss how to improve the MoU signed by the two institutions and deal with challenges that were witnessed therefrom.

The vice-chancellor said that FULafia was willing to collaborate with individuals, groups, institutions, agencies and departments for mutual benefits.

Abdul Rahman said that the importance of international collaboration among universities cannot be overemphasised, pointing out that universities from around the world are making the most of the possibilities by forming global partnerships and fostering relationships with other institutions, especially with the top ranking universities.

He called on the Zinder officials to feel free to make any contributions that would add value to the MoU.

The MoU between FULafia and the University of Zinder was signed in 2019, for a duration of five years, to, among others, “engage in exchange of facility and staff and students to promote academic excellence between both institutions.”

The MoU also allowed for the exchange of information, scientific research and publications between the institutions.

The delegation from the University of Zinder included Prof. Zakari Aboubacar, the Deputy Vice-chancellor of the University; Dr Malam Boucar Abba krou, Registrar; Dr Alka Qurmane Mahamadou, Head of Department of French, and Dr Umar Muhammad Dogondaji, Desk Officer, FULafia/Zinder Relations.

The articles of the Memorandum of Understanding provides as follows;

To engage in exchange of facility of staff and students to promote academic excellence between both Institution, exchanging teaching and learning through exchange of Academic Staff on Visiting or Sabbatical leave, enhancing academic activities through collaborative organized seminars, conferences,workshops,etc., exchange of information, scientific research and publications and exchange of lecturers and students by attending language immersion programs

Others are, Collaborative work through supervision of post coordinated students at the post graduate level i.e. Masters and Ph.D levels, development of Research Projects and their effective application as per the expertise from each Institution, the University of Zinder is to assist in training staff and students from Fulafia in French Language and Fulafia being Anglophone should assist in training the staff and students from the University of Zinder who wish to specialized in English, and organization of conferences, seminars, workshops and other academic activities among others.