Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Nigeria
The Directorate of University Advancement, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), has expressed profound appreciation to the University Management, academic community, staff and other stakeholders for their overwhelming support towards the successful visit of a three-man high-level delegation from the Pan-African Initiative for Research (PAIR) at the University of Waterloo, Canada.
In an appreciation message, the Director of the Directorate of University Advancement, Engr. Prof. Kennedy C. Onyelowe, described the visit as an important step towards expanding MOUAU’s international research, academic and institutional partnerships.
According to him, the warmth, cooperation, hospitality and support demonstrated throughout the visit reflected the strength of MOUAU as a community working together towards a common institutional objective.
He noted that the commitment extended across University Management, Colleges, Departments, Centres, laboratories, security personnel, administrative officers and support staff.
Engr. Prof. Onyelowe particularly expressed profound gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, for the approvals, encouragement and personal commitment that made the visit possible.
He commended the Vice-Chancellor for responding to correspondence and providing critical approvals, including late-night communications, at moments when arrangements for the visit were evolving rapidly.
According to him, the Vice-Chancellor’s encouragement gave the Directorate the confidence to continue pursuing the engagement and demonstrated her commitment to expanding the University’s international visibility and partnerships.
The Director also appreciated members of University Management, Deans and Directors, Professors, Early Career Researchers and other academic and non-academic staff who participated in the various engagements with the visiting delegation.
He said the intellectual depth and openness displayed by members of the University community left a positive impression on the visitors regarding MOUAU’s academic and research capacity.
Special acknowledgement was also given to the Chief Security Officer, Engr. Churchill C. Ekedo, and his security team for their professionalism, vigilance and support throughout the visit.
Engr. Prof. Onyelowe noted that the smooth movement of the guests around the University and the secure and welcoming environment experienced during the programme were made possible through the efforts of the security team and other support staff working behind the scenes.
He further acknowledged the University Librarian, Professor Isaac Ogbonnaya, whose initial contact with Dr. Onyeka Ezeh created the opportunity that eventually developed into the institutional engagement.
According to the Director, what started as a professional contact has now opened a potentially significant pathway for MOUAU into a wider international research and academic network.
The Directorate equally appreciated the coordinators and teams of the facilities and Centres visited by the delegation, including the ManuTech University Innovation Pod, AgroGlass House and soilless farming facility, Solar Farm and Demonstration Farm, among other facilities.
The facilities provided an opportunity for the visitors to experience firsthand some of MOUAU’s practical capacities in agriculture, renewable energy, innovation, manufacturing and technology.
Special appreciation was extended to Professor Mabel Onwuka and her team for receiving the delegation, explaining the activities of their facility and personally taking the visitors around.
Engr. Prof. Onyelowe also appreciated the thoughtful gift of a beautiful pepper pack presented during the visit, describing it as a simple but powerful demonstration of MOUAU’s warmth, agricultural identity and generosity.
He similarly commended Professor Macmanus C. Ndukwu and his team at the ManuTech UniPod for their teamwork and the excellent reception accorded the delegation.
According to him, the explanations, demonstrations and practical education provided at the innovation facility were valuable, while the facility itself offered the visitors a tangible representation of the innovation ecosystem MOUAU can contribute to international partnerships.
The Director also apologised to Directors, Heads of Departments, laboratory coordinators and Centre coordinators whose facilities could not be visited due to time constraints.
He assured them that their areas of expertise had not been excluded from the partnership opportunities emerging from the engagement, adding that as discussions progress, relevant Colleges, Departments, Centres, laboratories and researchers would be connected to opportunities aligned with their expertise.
Engr. Prof. Onyelowe disclosed that feedback received from the visitors had been extremely encouraging, with their interactions with the University’s academic community, management and facilities generating positive impressions and indications of interest in developing meaningful partnerships with MOUAU.
The delegation, according to him, expressed willingness to explore collaboration with MOUAU staff, research groups and students in areas including exchange programmes, joint research, knowledge transfer and other forms of academic engagement.
«“This is therefore not the end of a visit. In many respects, it is the beginning of something much bigger,” he stated.»
The Director consequently encouraged Professors, researchers, Early Career Researchers and students of the University to take advantage of the opportunities emerging from the engagement.
He stressed that international partnerships become meaningful when individual researchers and students connect with counterparts, develop ideas together and pursue concrete programmes.
While the Directorate of University Advancement would continue to provide the institutional bridge, he explained that the substance of such partnerships would ultimately depend on the intellectual capacity, research interests and initiatives of members of the University community.
He revealed that potential pathways were already emerging through NSERC and NFRF research routes, alongside other international funding opportunities.
Engr. Prof. Onyelowe therefore urged researchers to build international networks, develop joint research ideas, identify counterparts abroad and position themselves for collaborative grants, staff mobility, postgraduate exchanges, visiting researcher opportunities and joint publications.
He emphasised that the Directorate’s responsibility goes beyond signing agreements, noting that it is committed to opening doors, establishing meaningful relationships, connecting members of the University community to opportunities and ensuring that MOUAU becomes increasingly visible and respected internationally.
«“MOUAU must not take the back seat on the world map. We must continue to position the University where its scholarship, research, innovation, agriculture, engineering, entrepreneurship and human capital can be seen, recognised and connected to the rest of the world,” he stated.»
Engr. Prof. Onyelowe also expressed appreciation to the visiting delegation from the University of Waterloo, thanking them for travelling to Umudike, engaging with the University community, visiting facilities, interacting with researchers and sharing their vision for meaningful international collaboration.
He particularly thanked Dr. Onyeka Ezeh for facilitating the necessary connections and helping transform the initial contact into a serious institutional conversation.
Special appreciation was equally extended to Mr. Grant Leach, Waterloo Recruiter and Strategist, and Dr. Adra Raine, Associate Director of PAIR at the University of Waterloo, for visiting MOUAU and delivering informative and inspiring presentations on the University of Waterloo, its academic environment and opportunities available to prospective collaborators, researchers and students.
The presentations, according to the Director, enabled members of the MOUAU community to better understand the possibilities presented by the emerging relationship and generated considerable interest among staff and researchers.
The Directorate expressed optimism that the discussions would progress into concrete programmes, joint research proposals, staff and student exchanges, knowledge transfer initiatives and other mutually beneficial activities.
Engr. Prof. Onyelowe concluded by thanking everyone who contributed to the successful visit, observing that significant institutional progress can sometimes begin with something as simple as a conversation, introduction, email or invitation.
He called on the University community to sustain the momentum generated by the visit and work collectively towards transforming the goodwill into tangible opportunities for MOUAU.
«“Let us therefore keep the doors open, keep the conversations going and, most importantly, turn the goodwill generated by this visit into tangible opportunities for MOUAU. Thank you all for believing in the possibilities,” he said.»
Engr. Prof. Kennedy C. Onyelowe
Director, Directorate of University Advancement
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria
This is indeed a good step towards expanding international research