IT'S FORWARD EVER IN UNIZIK
HOPE RISES FOR 8 NEW DEPARTMENTS IN UNIZIK AS NUC RESOURCE VERIFICATION TEAMS ASSESSS PROPOSED PROGRAMMES
The Resource Verification Teams of the National Universities Commission (NUC) have completed their assessment of the human and physical resources put in place by Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, for the establishment of new academic programmes.
The teams, who paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, at his office, on Thursday September 03, 2026, were at the University to verify the resources available for the proposed programmes following proposals submitted by the University to the Commission.
This exercise covered three areas: the proposed Departments of Criminology & Security Studies and Social Work under the Faculty of Social Sciences, to be created from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology; the proposed Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics under the Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology; and the Optometry department in the Faculty of Medicine and surgery.
The Director of Academic Planning, Prof. Angela Nwogor Ufele-Obiesie, in turn, introduced the three teams to the Vice-Chancellor. The respective team leads thereafter informed the Vice-Chancellor that they had completed their assignments and were ready to return to the Commission with their findings.
Speaking on the assessment of the proposed Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Bro. Mathew E. Esene said the team had verified the human and physical facilities available for the programme to ascertain their adequacy and readiness. He commended the University for the laudable steps already taken while also identifying areas requiring further improvement.
The Team Lead for the NUC delegation that assessed the proposed Optometry department Prof. Doknan Danjuma Sheni, expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor and the University Management for the hospitality extended to the team and for the facilities provided
.
Prof. Sheni commended the University’s commitment to establishing the programme, noting that the team had inspected the building dedicated to Optometry, the e-library and main library, as well as the University’s plans to procure the required equipment.
He, however, advised the University to obtain the authorised specifications from NUC for the proposed building and ensure that the required equipment was provided. He also commended the Departments of Physiology, Biochemistry and Anatomy, describing them as sound foundations upon which the Optometry programme could be built.
Prof. Sheni further advised the University to strengthen staffing for the programme and explore opportunities for the proposed Optometry programme to become financially sustainable through the provision of clinical services,
Also speaking, the Deputy Director, Research and Innovation, NUC, Dr. Patrick Ukah, commended the Vice-Chancellor and the Management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University for the hospitality accorded the team and the level of human and physical resources provided for the proposed departments.
According to Dr. Ukah, the team had verified the facilities and assessed the readiness of the proposed Departments of Criminology & Security Studies and Social Work to commence operations. He added that the team had reviewed their curricula in line with NUC benchmark requirements, adding that the findings from the exercise would be documented and submitted to the Commission, which would subsequently communicate its decision to the University regarding the proposed programmes.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, thanked the NUC teams for their assessment and for acknowledging the efforts of the University Management.
Prof. Anyaehie said the University was committed not only to establishing the proposed programmes but also to building them into strong, sustainable and independent academic units.
Speaking specifically on Optometry, the Vice-Chancellor said the University had a broader vision for the programme beyond merely commencing academic activities, noting that the University intended to develop it to the level where it could operate an independent eye clinic and provide quality services to the public.
Prof. Anyaehie disclosed that the University was prioritising the provision of modern equipment and adequate staffing, adding that Management was also working to address disparities in staffing across departments by deploying personnel to areas where they were most needed.
The Vice-Chancellor further disclosed that the University was working towards the digitalisation of learning boards, expansion of classroom facilities and improvement of its library and e-library infrastructure. He noted that TETFund was constructing a new library with a 300-seat capacity, while 100 computers were expected for the e-library.
Prof. Anyaehie expressed optimism that the facilities and resources currently available represented only the beginning of what the University intended to achieve when the proposed programmes eventually commenced.
“We are happy to have you. We wish you could stay more,” the Vice-Chancellor said, appreciating the team members for their visit and assessment.
The visit ended with the presentation of Unizik-branded bags containing the Vice-Chancellor’s diaries to members of the NUC Resource Verification Teams.
Other members of the delegation included Olanrewoju Lamhun; David Iheukwumere, NUC Representative; Prof. Salamat Atinuke, NUC Representative; Florence U. Ohuoha, NUC Representative; Prof. Kelechi Osayi, Head, Department of Sociology; Prof. P. U. Agbasi, NUC Team Lead; Odigwe Esther, NUC Representative; Nnadi Chinazo B., DR (ADU); Dr. D. C. Ugwuanyi, Sub-Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology; Prof. C. O. Akosile, Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, among others
← Back to News
