Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN), Kano, has signed another Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with Federal Polytechnic Daura (FEDPODRA) as part of continuous effort to promote academic and research development.
The ceremony, which was conducted at MAAUN campus located at Hotoro GRA, Kano, was aimed at creating the enabling environment for educational and cultural exchange between the two institutions.
The MoU which was signed on Tuesday, 14th March, 2023, will also provide the University the opportunity to extend its academic alliance through collaboration with local and foreign institutions.
Speaking at the occasion, the President of MAAUN, Prof. (Dr.) Mohammad Israr, who stressed the importance of the MoU, expressed the commitment of the University to ensuring prompt implementation of the agreement as soon as all the prerequisites are completed.
Prof. Israr, who spoke at length on the areas of partnership, said the two institutions will be organizing joint research, publication and entrepreneurship training workshops to promote academic excellence and self reliance.
He disclosed that when the MoU becomes operational, MAAUN will develop a teaching and research linkage programme, where academic staff of FEDPODRA would have the opportunity to come to the University for teaching, research and project supervision for a particular period of time.
According to Prof. Israr, other areas of collaboration include organizing short term capacity building programs, seminars and workshops on areas of grant sourcing and writing, IT training and Online Learning Management System (LMS).
In his remarks, the Rector of FEDPODRA, Prof. Aliyu Mamman expressed delight for the warm reception accorded the team and reiterated the need for the collaboration, which according to him, would facilitate the development of education in the country.
Prof. Mamman said the idea to partner with MAAUN was borne out of the University's track record of academic excellence especially in the areas of science, research and human development, which placed the institution among the leading private Universities in Nigeria.
He expressed optimism that when the MoU is implemented, FEDPODRA, being a young institution, would have the opportunity to benefit a great deal from the facilities, resources and wealth of experience of MAAUN in different areas of development.
Also in a remark, the Vice President Administration, Dr. Habib Awais Abubakar, commended the management of FEDPODRA for its commitment to signing the document adding the collaboration becomes expedient in view of the growing need for quality education in Africa.
According to him, education is the ingredient needed to salvage Africa from its dwindling features and from the shackles of poverty, illiteracy and insecurity.
Dr. Habib noted that academic collaborations, when successfully implemented, always have a symbiotic relationship, where the partners involved would have the opportunity to explore and learn from each other in different fields of human endeavor.
Similarly, the Registrar of FEDPODRA, Mal. Rabiu Danmalam noted that the institution has the capacity to compete favourably with any University across the globe.
He said he is specifically interested in collaborating with MAAUN mainly because of the University's paradigm shift from the traditional and dogmatic way of imparting knowledge to a learner-centered approach, which according to him, encourages self reliance after graduation.
In his address, the Director, Institute of Africa Higher Education Research and Innovation (IAHERI), Prof. Abubakar Sadiq Harouna, saluted the co-partners for their interest in the partnership, adding that MAAUN is a model institution concentrating on providing quality and accessible education to the teeming youth in Nigeria and beyond.
He said, when the ideas and experience of the partners are integrated, the institutions would not only serve as a certificate producing industries but also a breeding ground for generational leaders and enterprenuers.
Prof. Sadiq maintained that the partnership would significantly uplift the status of the institutions in many areas of academic, research and human development.
Other highlights of the event include award presentation to the officials of FEDPODRA by the principal staff of MAAUN Kano.
Some Management staff at the occasion include; Director, International Linkages and Collaboration, Dr. Bala Muhammad Tukur, Head, Corporate Communications and Protocol Unit, Engr. Bashir Muhammad Garba, Public Relations Officer ll, Hayatuddeen M. Abdallah, Chief Librarian, FEDPODRA, Dr. Ibrahim Ahmad Idi and Director, Academic Planning, Research and Linkages, FEDPODRA, Dr. Musa Gambo.