AUST, AEA Partner On Research And Human Development Programs

The African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja is to partner with the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA)  on research, human development,entrepreneurship education and other mutually benefiting areas.

This was disclosed when the AEA team led by its Chief Executive Officer, Mallam  Shehu Abdulkadir paid a courtesy visit to the the Acting President of AUST, Professor Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, FAS, in his office in Abuja recently.

Welcoming the visitors, Professor Onwualu highlighted the activities, achievements and challenges confronting the university since its inception in 2007.

According to him, AUST commenced full academic work in June 2007 as a post graduate, research oriented, pan African university with the vision to produce world – class scientists and engineers that would pummel science and technology in Africa in the 21st century.

He stressed that the university however expanded its curriculum by introducing undergraduate courses in eight disciplines after getting the National Universities Commission (NUC)’s nod in 2021, the establishment of AUSTInspire, an incubation hub supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB), where innovative ideas are nurtured and harnessed as well as many centers of excellence he said boosted the vicinity of the university tremendously.

Prof. Onwualu thanked the AEA CEO for finding time to visit him and  reiterated the willingness of the university to collaborate with the agency more especially in the area of innovation, entrepreneurship education, research and consultancy for the mutual benefits of the two organizations.

Responding, the CEO of Abuja Enterprise Agency, Mallam Shehu Abdulkadir expressed his appreciation on the warm reception accorded him and his team maintaining that they have come to partner with AUST in pursuit of their mission statement which according to him is centered on job creation and poverty eradication.

Mallam Abdulkadir hinted that since the creation of the agency in 2006, the agency has embarked on various projects to achieve their set out goals as a symbol of entrepreneurial development in Africa.

He threw more light on the agency’s outreach programs to tertiary institutions in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and neighboringstates and urged AUST to embrace it.

According to him “ AEA since inception has embarked on  Outreach programs aimed specifically at sensitizing undergraduates in tertiary institutions, particularly universities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and neighboring states, to entrepreneurship education thereby enhancing their  entrepreneurial capacities, fostering collaborative relationships with the tertiary institutions and its environs as well asbuilding a robust ecosystem of viable businesses within these institutions” he added.

Afterwards, the two institutions identified training of staff at Masters and Doctorate levels at AUST at discounted rates, Joint entrepreneurial research and publications to promote knowledge exchange and innovation as well as active participation of AEA in AUST programs and activities with the sole aim of fostering a mutually beneficial relationship for which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be drawn and signed at a latter date.

The AEA boss was accompanied on the visit by Hauwa  Zambuk, Head of Department for Enterprise Development Services; Bolaji Asuni, Head, Social Enterprise; Uduma Ojo, Enterprise Development Officer; Jennifer Buba, Partnership and Strategy Officer and Halima Farouk, Public Relations Officer while Mr. Ben Okonkwo, Bursar, AUST; Dr. Abdulhakeem Bello, Director of Academic Planning; Dr. Vitalis Anye, Acting Head of Department of the Materials Science and Engineering; Dr. David Afoloyan, Acting , Head of Department, Mechanical Engineering, AUST; Dr. Prisca Onuoha, Coordinator of Short Courses in AUST, Mr. Chidera Iloka who represented the Head, Media Services/PR, AUST, Prince Obioha Atulomah and Mr. Solomon Ibrahim, Budget Officer and Personal assistant to the AUST president joined  Professor A.P Onwualu in receiving the august visitors.