1. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 1 Role of GEIFON in the Facilitation of Network Activities By Professor Anthony B. Ebeigbe Executive Director, Global Educational Initiative For Nigeria (GEIFON) At The Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting Takwa, Ghana January 22, 2010

2. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 2 Objective “To advance knowledge, wisdom and understanding by teaching and research with the ultimate purpose of service to the community”

3. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 3 Location: Benin City - An ancient cultural city located in the Mid-Western part of Nigeria – about 300km from Lagos. Population is about 1.2 million. The City plays host, annually, to foreign tourists, attracted by the famous Arts and Crafts of the Benin Kingdom

4. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 4 Access Benin City is accessible by Road (a dual- carriage Expressway) and by Air. It is a relatively calm University town. The inhabitants are quite hospitable – in the true African tradition, especially to visitors.

5. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 5 Historical The University of Benin (formerly Midwest Institute of Technology) was founded in November, 1970. It is the 6 th of the first-generation Federal Universities (there are now OVER 100 Universities in Nigeria)

6. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 6 Initial emphasis: Science and Technology In subsequent years, programs were expanded to embrace disciplines in humanities and social sciences

7. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 7 Programs UNIBEN has twelve Faculties, three Institutes, a School of Postgraduate Studies, a College of Medical Sciences (comprising three schools). There are 68 (sixty-eight) academic departments grouped under the faculties according to related disciplines

8. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 8 Faculties AgricultureLaw ArtsLife Sciences Basic Medical Sciences Medicine DentistryPharmacy EducationPhysical Sciences EngineeringSocial Sciences

9. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 9 Academic Calendar & Courses The University operates a semester system. There are two semesters in an academic year with each lasting about 17 weeks. The duration of lectures is 15 weeks per semester. UNIBEN operates the course credit system: One credit unit is assigned to one hour of lecture or tutorial per week per semester.

10. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 10 Enrolment Current student population is about 40,000 – comprising 26,000 full-time and 14,000 part time students. For the past 6 years, UNIBEN has remained the University of 1 st choice in Nigeria (among undergraduate applicants) Indeed, in last year’s webometric ranking, UNIBEN was the 2 nd best University in the Commonwealth!

11. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 11 ICT Facilities The University has a Computer Centre which renders support services to the University’s academic programs. Huge investments have been made in the provision of computers and computerization of operations E-mail facility is available and staff and students have access to the internet. The University maintains a website: (http://www.uniben.edu)http://www.uniben.edu

12. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 12 Teaching & Research A wide range of multidisciplinary researches in the broad areas of: Engineering Environmental Sciences Agriculture (Soil Science) Physical & Life Sciences

13. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 13 Undergraduate Program Various aspects of Water Science are embraced in curricula of relevant departments/units, particularly: Geology, Animal & Environmental Biology, Soil Science and Environmental Engineering.

14. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 14 Undergraduate program: Aimed at: Producing graduates who are well-qualified for careers in the prevention, characterization, and amelioration of environmental, soil and water problems.

15. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 15 Complementary Centres in UNIBEN UNESCO-GEIFON CHAIR in Environmental Sciences – recently approved 4-year facility for UNIBEN National Centre For Energy & Environment – a capacity-building affiliate of the Energy Commission of Nigeria

16. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 16 Health Program Active collaboration with the Department of community Health Emphasis here is on prevention of water- borne diseases An essential component of Medical students’ rural postings

17. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 17 Goal of Centre: Issues related to water resources including: assessment of available water resources, its treatment, uses and management, Inspection and monitoring of existing water facilities, ecosystems, health conditions, socio economic aspects, water related disasters such as flooding, water pollution and their management. Also, issues related to hydro data modeling, water expansion and management of water schemes through adaptation and development of state-of-the-art Technology

18. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 18 Goal of Centre: Develop capacity building programs that will address problems in the areas of: water supply, sanitation, water resources management, and water productivity.

19. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 19 Goal…… Specific activities will include: Personnel training, Academic research, Students’ internships and Mobilization of Diaspora scientists and professionals

20. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 20 Int’l Collaboration Professor Nosa O. Egiebor Environmental Engineering Program, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088, USA

21. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 21 Application Process Further details on specific on-going researches will be provided in formal application Also details of Personnel on ground and activities

22. 22/01/2010 Africa-USA Network Strategic Planning Meeting 22 UNIVERSITY OF BENIN for Positive Partnerships THANK YOU

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