UNIZIK IS THE UNIVERSITY OF THE MOMENT
Boost for Academic Publishing in Southeast as TETFund unveils Centre in UNIZIK
Academic publishing for universities in the southeast received a major boost over the weekend as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) formally commissioned its Academic Publishing Centre (APC), domiciled at Nnamid Azikiwe University, Awka, designated to serve tertiary institutions across the South-East geopolitical zone, in a development expected to strengthen academic publishing, research and knowledge dissemination in the region.
In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ugochukwu Bond Anyaehie who also serves as Chairman of the Academic Publishing Centre Board, highlighted the significance of the facility to the University's academic development, noting that its establishment would further strengthen research, scholarship and the dissemination of knowledge. He acknowledged TETFund's continued support for tertiary education through strategic interventions aimed at improving the quality of teaching, learning and research.
He further noted that the centre places UNIZIK in an important position to support academic publishing beyond the University, particularly by providing publishing opportunities and services to other tertiary institutions across the South-East. He emphasised the need for the facility to be effectively utilised to promote scholarly contributions, encourage the publication of academic works and enhance the visibility of research outputs from institutions within the region.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairman, Board of Trustees of TETFund, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, the TETFund Board of Trustees Member Representative for the South-East Zone, Hon. Mrs. Esther Onyinyechukwu Ukachukwu, described the Fund as a reliable source of intervention in Nigeria's tertiary education sector.
She explained that the Academic Publishing Centre initiative was conceived to establish and equip model publishing facilities in selected institutions across the six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory, with the centres serving other public tertiary institutions within their respective zones.
According to her, the South-East centre, located at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, is specifically intended to serve as a publishing hub for academic textbooks produced by tertiary institutions across the region. She further emphasised the importance of education to national development and reaffirmed TETFund's commitment to supporting innovative approaches to teaching, learning and research.
She, however, urged the host and beneficiary institutions within the zone to ensure that the facility is put into operation, properly managed and sustained for the benefit of the academic community.
Masari, said the establishment of the centre reflected the Fund’s commitment to improving teaching, learning and research through targeted interventions in the tertiary education sector.
Masari explained that TETFund’s Higher Education Book Development Project was introduced to expand access to quality academic publications and strengthen indigenous publishing capacity in Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions.
He disclosed that the Board of Trustees made a submission to the Federal Government for N2bn to commence the Higher Education Book Development Project in 2009, which was subsequently approved.
According to him, an additional N2.95bn was provided in 2019, while the Technical Advisory Group Committee was reinvigorated and inaugurated in August of the same year to strengthen the implementation of the project.
He said one of the major objectives was to establish and equip model Academic Publishing Centres in selected institutions across the six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory, with their services extended to public tertiary institutions within their respective regions.
The South-East centre, located at UNIZIK, is therefore expected to provide publishing services for academic textbooks and other scholarly materials produced by institutions across the zone.
Masari described education as a strategic sector that must receive priority attention, noting that TETFund would continue to introduce interventions that promote innovation, improve learning outcomes and strengthen research development.
“TETFund will continue to deliver responsive intervention programmes and will be at the forefront in promoting creative and innovative approaches to educational learning and championing new literacy-enhancing areas.”
The TETFund BoT chairman, however, charged the university and other beneficiary institutions in the South-East to ensure that the facility was properly managed, effectively utilised and sustained.
“It is the expectation of the Fund and that of the Federal Government that the beneficiaries will reciprocate this gesture by ensuring that the APC located in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, is put into operation, properly managed and sustained by the host and beneficiary institutions within the zone,” he said.
He also solicited the cooperation of stakeholders to ensure the successful take-off of the centre, assuring that the Fund would remain committed to transparency and accountability in the discharge of its responsibilities.
The ceremony featured the official commissioning of the centre, unveiling of the plaque and a tour of the facility, which provided guests with an opportunity to inspect its facilities and appreciate the infrastructure provided for academic publishing.
The event was attended by the Registrar, Dr Chineye Gloria Okeke; DVC (Academic) Prof. Alex Asigbo; DVC (Administration) Prof. Hilda Osioma; Dean, Student Affairs, Prof. Kingsley Ubaoji; Director, Academic Planning, Prof. Angela Ufele; Prof Tochukwu G. Orji Okafor, Coordinator, COCES,and Director, Information and Public Relations, Comrade Aloysius Emeka Attah, Director, Physical Planning, Engr Lawrence Ezeokafor, Chief Safety Officer, Obi Collins Chinedu amongst others.
Also present were TETFund officials, including Mr Oniyangi Banji Abdulmumini, Director, Public Affairs Department; Mrs Onuoha Catherine, South-East Zonal Coordinator; Ayi Ekpenyong Nsa, Assistant Director, Monitoring and Evaluation Department; Muhammad Lawan Khaill, Assistant Director, Education Support Services Department; Amadi George Chibeoso, Assistant Chief Engineer, Monitoring and Evaluation Department; Chukwu Nnanyere Nnaemeka, Assistant Chief Architect, South-East Zonal Office; and Emmanuel Chinonso Okoye, Senior Engineer, Monitoring and Evaluation Department.
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