Q4, 2019 e-zine ® Franco-FUNAI Relationship gets strengthened as scholars begin to return ® AE-FUNAI positions Nigeria for Industry 4.0 ® Upscaling climate resilience with the vision of a Campus-in-a-Garden School of Postgraduate Studies Front Cover Photo: Vice-Chancellor of AE-FUNAI, Prof Chinedum Nwajiuba with Director of Campus France, Madam Beatrice Khaiat ALEX EKWUEME FEDERAL UNIVERSITY NDUFU-ALIKE, EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA AE-FUNAI FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike (AE- FUNAI) is one of the youngest and, arguably, one of the highest achieving federal universities in Nigeria today. Established in 2011 and located in the serene environment of Ikwo in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, the University aspires to be a world-class University recognized for the delivery of intellectually rigorous research, excellent teaching/learning experience, and reckonable community impact. The University currently runs degree programmes in a College of Medicine, a College of Postgraduate Studies and seven Faculties - Agriculture, Basic Medical Sciences, Education, Engineering and Technology, Humanities, Management and Social Sciences, and Sciences. Its motto, Excellence and Integrity, is at the core of its academic philosophy which has helped its staff and students to achieve many recognitions. A recent example is the emergence of AE- FUNAI as champion amongst universities in southeast Nigeria at the zonal ornamental tree seedlings through voluntary efforts competition of the African Undergraduate of staff, students and friends of the University. The Geoscience Competition (AUGC). campus has also been bestowed with a 2.8 MW off- grid solar hybrid independent power plant by which it To improve the quality of the University's teaching now enjoys 24/7 supply of clean energy as against the staff, we entered into an understanding with the previous daily record of 12 hours of electricity on government of France, enabling AE-FUNAI to be weekdays and 6 hours on weekends. This sending its selected academic staff as M.Sc. and PhD development has enhanced teaching and learning, scholars to top-level universities in France with improved security and created an ambience for the funding from TETFund. It is expected that upon their thriving of research. return from France, these academics that are trained under a common culture of excellence, hard work We have introduced many other initiatives that will and integrity will constitute a critical mass of redefine the contribution of universities to learning, personnel that will further drive excellence-as-a- research and community service. culture to a tipping point in the University. Parents, students, partners, employers and other On my assuming office in 2016, I launched a Campus stakeholders are once more welcome to savor AE- Green Initiative featuring pervasive tree planting, FUNAI's great promises, its culture of serious- preference for renewable energy sources over fossil mindedness, its its thriving community of students fuel, responsible energy use, and a generally kind and devoted staff, and its records of high disposition towards the planet in day-to-day achievement. decisions of staff and students. It is cheering to note that in a space of three years, the University has Prof. Chinedum Uzoma Nwajiuba planted close to 30,000 stands of fruit and Vice-Chancellor ALEX EKWUEME FEDERAL UNIVERSITY 1 NDUFU-ALIKE, NIGERIA ALEX EKWUEME FEDERAL UNIVERSITY NDUFU-ALIKE, EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA AE-FUNAI TIMELINE 3rd set of undergraduate Establishment of 3 inaugural faculties: Basic Medical students admitted into Sciences; Humanities & Social Sciences; Science. the university Commencement of academic activities in Ikwo Campus 1st set of undergraduate students admitted into the university 2011 2013 2012 2014 Establishment of Federal Establishment of School of University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo by Foundation Studies nd the Federal Government of Nigeria 2 set of undergraduate Appointment of Professor Oye students admitted into the Ibidapo-Obe as Vice-Chancellor university and G O C Chukwu as Registrar ALEX EKWUEME FEDERAL UNIVERSITY 2 NDUFU-ALIKE, NIGERIA ALEX EKWUEME FEDERAL UNIVERSITY NDUFU-ALIKE, EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA AE-FUNAI 5th set of undergraduate students admitted into the university End of tenure of Prof Oye Ibidapo-Obe as VC Appointment of Professor Chinedum Uzoma Nwajiuba as Vice- Chancellor Introduction of Language Enhancement Program as a mandatory zero-credit course for students Establishment of University Bookshop Commencement of FUNAI Lecture Series th Commencement of Campus Green initiative Admission of 6 set of undergraduate students st Inauguration of FUNAI Parents Forum Admission of 1 set of postgraduate students Establishment of faculties of (i) Agriculture, (ii) Education and (iii) MoU with IITA Management & Social Sciences Name of the University changed by the Federal Establishment of Directorate of Research and Development Government to Alex Ekwueme Federal University Initiation of FUNAI-French Government Collaboration Ndufu-Alike [AE-FUNAI] Public Lecture No. 1 Intensification of Campus Green initiative nd 1st Convocation ceremony Admission of 2 set of medical students 2015 2017 2016 2018 Admission of 5th set of undergraduate students Establishment of College of Medicine Establishment of School of Postgraduate Studies Establishment of Quality Assurance Unit 4th set of Commencement of studies for Franco-FUNAI scholars undergraduate Establishment of Centre for Development Assistance students admitted Management, Partnership & Training into the university Establishment of Centre for Human Resource Development Establishment of Centre for Internationalization, Linkages, Advancement and Global Ranking School of Foundation Studies renamed Centre for Educational Studies Holding of Public Lectures No.2, 3, 4 and 5 2nd Convocation ceremony ALEX EKWUEME FEDERAL UNIVERSITY 3 NDUFU-ALIKE, NIGERIA ALEX EKWUEME FEDERAL UNIVERSITY NDUFU-ALIKE, EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA AE-FUNAI n 4th Convocation Ceremony n Award of 1st Honorary Doctorate degree n Production of 1st M.Sc. graduate n Upgrading of SIWES to directorate n Establishment of Directorate of Extension and Community Service n Establishment of Centre for Enhancement of Teaching and Learning n Establishment of Igbo Centre n Establishment of Centre for Climate Change and Development n Establishment of Centre for Gender and Women Studies n Upgrading of Directorate of Quality Assurance n Establishment of Directorate of AE-FUNAI Farms and Cooperatives n Establishment of Office of Coordinator, Anti-Cult Activities n Upgrading of Office of Coordinator, Campus Green Initiative n Establishment of AE-FUNAI Microfinance Bank n Establishment of AE-FUNAI Press 2019 4 ALEX EKWUEME FEDERAL UNIVERSITY NDUFU-ALIKE, EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA AE-FUNAI OVERVIEW OF ALEX EKWUEME FEDERAL UNIVERSITY NDUFU-ALIKE Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme GCON (October 21, 1932 - November 19, 2017). Thinker, philosopher, architect, community leader, influencer, activist and former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Dr Alex Ekwueme GCON after whom the University is named was the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 1979 - 1983. A deep lover of knowledge, He had Bachelor's degrees in Architecture, City Planning, Sociology, History, Philosophy and Law. He also had a Master's degree in Urban Planning and a PhD in Architecture lex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, work. Ebonyi State, Nigeria was established by the AFederal Government of Nigeria in 2011 with the AE-FUNAI is increasingly recognized for the delivery of goal of expanding and improving access to quality intellectually rigorous research and excellent teaching tertiary education to every part of Nigeria. It had the and learning experience, geared towards the name, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY NDUFU-ALIKE, IKWO production of graduates with the skills, knowledge and (FUNAI) up till 2018 when it was renamed in honor of attitude relevant for success in life. the late former Vice-President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme. Its 7 Faculties offer high quality academic programmes in Agriculture, Basic Medical Sciences, Education, The University sits on 438 hectares of land, Engineering and Technology, Humanities, geographically located on latitude 060 8.29' N, Management and Social Sciences, and Sciences. It also Longitude 080 8.627'E and Altitude 55m (AMSL). It is has a College of Medicine and a School of Postgraduate sited in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State Studies. which is about 25 kilometers from Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi state in southeast Nigeria. The Ikwo location Excellence, integrity and entrepreneurship is easily one of the most ideal locations for a university - development are at the core of the University's not too near to the hustles of a major city, and not too academic philosophy and they are integrated into the far from the excitement and provisions of a capital city. delivery of academic programmes. Our environment is serene and Just right for academic ALEX EKWUEME FEDERAL UNIVERSITY 5 NDUFU-ALIKE, NIGERIA ALEX EKWUEME FEDERAL UNIVERSITY NDUFU-ALIKE, EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA AE-FUNAI Franco-FUNAI Relationship gets strengthened - as scholars begin to return The relationship between AE-FUNAI and the government of France has further been strengthened as AE- FUNAI staffers who studied under the FRANCO-FUNAI Collaboration scheme have begun to return, following the completion of their programmes. The University Management went into a formal agreement with the Government of France