The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charles Okechukwu Esimone, FAS, has urged corporate organizations, potential investors, and individuals with philanthropic inclinations to align themselves with the University for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and various investment opportunities.
The call was made during the commissioning ceremony of the Bankers’ Hall, a flagship project initiated by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) on the university campus.
Professor Esimone highlighted the significant strides the university has made in research, teaching, and community service, resulting in an enhanced global ranking. He emphasized the university’s openness to diverse projects, encouraging stakeholders to view Nnamdi Azikiwe University as the ideal destination for investment, support, and CSR initiatives. Noting the university’s remarkable progress, he stated, “The University is rising at a very rapid rate, moving from 4994th position globally in 2019 to below 1500 currently. We have also climbed from 36th position in Nigeria to 4th.”
Commending the CIBN for its contribution to banking and finance education, Professor Esimone assured the sustained upkeep and optimal utilization of the newly commissioned facility. Expressing gratitude for the swift completion of the project, he remarked, “This is the fastest project to be delivered in the history of the University, and we are grateful for the corporate social responsibility extended to us. I want to tell CIBN that you will never regret making this investment in the University.”
During the handover of the keys to the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Ken Opara, the President/Chairman of CIBN, described the Bankers’ Hall as a state-of-the-art digital hub equipped with resources essential for students and scholars in the fields of Economics and Finance. Opara emphasized the commitment of CIBN to advance banking and finance in Nigeria, noting that the hall, with its 160-seat auditorium, symbolizes unwavering support for excellence in education. He encouraged students and scholars to maximize the facility and called on the university’s management to ensure its proper maintenance. Opara also highlighted CIBN’s human capital development fund, designed to support banking and finance graduates in gaining practical experience after their youth service.