The National University Commission, (NUC) is working out modalities for collaboration between Nigerian universities and their Irish counterparts to enhance capacity and students intakes.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Executive Secretary, of the NUC, Dr Chris Maiyaki stated this when the Chairman of the Nigeria-Republic of Island Parliamentary Friendship Association, Hon Professor Paul Nnamchi led Ambassador Peter Ryan the Irish Envoy to Nigeria and International Development Officer, Technological University of Dublin, Dr. Peter Flood made to his office.
The NUC scribe also disclosed that “Nigeria has launched a guideline on Transnational education which now empowers foreign universities to establish universities in Nigeria, site their campuses or cohost courses with universities in the country and award degrees.
Dr Maiyaki further emphasized that the commission was ready to accommodate foreign universities with courses in information technology, (ICT), artificial intelligence, (AI) and other evolving disciplines, stressing that respective universities could incorporate 30 percent of their own curriculum while the remaining 70 percent would come from the NUC.
He assured the delegation that the commission would set up a committee to draft memorandum of understanding, (MOU) which would be jointly executed in order to gain maximum benefit from the visit.
Earlier in his introductory remarks, Ambassador Ryan who described Technological University, Dublin as one among the best in the country observed that the Institution had annexed all other campuses to create one big university in one location.
The Irish Ambassador equally explained that the embassy was proposing a visit of the House Committee members to Island to meet with their Irish counterparts with a view to exploring areas of collaboration between Nigeria and Island especially among educational institutions, in agriculture and machinery, as well as Partnership with Irish companies, among other things.
Dr. Flood had earlier informed the NUC boss that he was in Nigeria to explore areas of collaboration with the Nigerian
universities particularly in Engineering, information technology, (ICT) Music and Artificial Intelligence, (AI).
He also added that his university equally trains teachers in the area of pedagogy, to ensure that all teachers qualify in teaching and learning methods within three years without which you exit the profession as it is in Ireland.
Professor Nnamchi who equally spoke during the meeting commended the Irish Ambassador Mr Ryan for spearheading the educational collaboration between his country and Nigeria, stressing that it would benefit Nigerian students because it would afford Nigerians to look also towards Ireland as a good alternative to America and other parts of Europe.
The House Committee Chairman on Nigeria-Republic of Island Parliamentary Friendship committee further disclosed that the Irish delegation had promised that from 2026, “the scholarship we are negotiating for Nigerian students may start materializing and these are
all good for the country.”