US diaspora scholars pledge help for Nigerian universities

Op Nigerian scientists based in the United States have entered into a formal agreement to assist universities at home, with a view to supporting postgraduate programmes. Academics in Nigeria have welcomed the move because of its potential positive multiplier effects.

But there are also fears that if private and public sectors fail to support the end products of such a partnership, it may lead to another vicious circle of brain drain.

Last weekend in far away Atlanta city in America, Professor Julius Okojie, executive secretary of the National Universities Commission, or NUC, of Nigeria signed a memorandum of understanding with eight US-based Nigerian scientists.

The main objectives of the partnership are to enhance the culture of research and training excellence in Nigerian universities, encourage academic scholarship, strengthen applied biological, biotechnological and biomedical sciences curricula, and assure international standards and recognition of institutional academic programmes.

Those involved

For a pilot project, which will eventually metamorphose into a full-blown initiative involving more Nigerian universities and US-based Nigerian scientists, the NUC selected seven federal universities – University of Ibadan, University of Benin, Usman Dan Fodio University, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, University of Lagos, University of Ilorin and Federal University, Otuoke.

The eight US-based Nigerians are all globally respected scientists. They are:

Professor Nelson Oyesiku of Atlanta’s Emory University. He is a neurosurgeon and current president of US Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

Professor Funmi Olopade of the University of Chicago. He is a cancer specialist and is on President Barack Obama’s National Cancer Advisory Board.

Professor Joseph Igietseme, a specialist in biomedical sciences. He has a decade-long grant of US$20 million to carry out research activities for the National Institutes of Health.

Professor Charles Rotimi, director of the US government’s Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health.

Professor Abba Gumel, a mathematician at Arizona State University.

Professor Innocent Mbawuike of the department of molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Professor Francis Eko, professor of microbiology and immunology at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta.

Professor William Undie, chair of radiologic sciences at the University of Texas in Houston.
source: http://www.punchng.com/education/us-diaspora-scholars-pledge-help-for-nigerian-universities/

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