AUST becomes 10th varsity under World Bank’s ACEP

THE National Universities Commission (NUC), says that the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, has met all the requirements to be part of the Nigerian universities that qualified for the African Centres of Excellence Project (ACE).

AUST, which is the 10th Nigerian varsity under the ACE project could not sign the performance contract due to outstanding documentations that are pre-condition for the take- off of the project.

Speaking at a press briefing on the ACE project, NUC Executive Secretary, Prof Juluis Okojie, explained that the document included legal opinion on the performance contract as well as the partnership agreements, project accounts in line with the requirements of ACE and proper composition of the implementation team.

“I am happy to report that the university has met all the requirements and consequently, we signed the performance contract on Monday, June 29th, 2015. We equally followed up, very quickly with the World Bank by Thursday, July 2nd, 2015,” Okogie stated.

He stated that the commission has also received a notification of approval of the World Bank declaring the university effective

While stressing that the implication of losing one ACE would have been a loss of the sum of $8m, which was approved for that centre, he further explained that the money would have been reallocated across board, thereby reducing Nigeria’s portfolio.

The NUC executive secretary noted that the commission played a key role in facilitating the participation of Nigerian universities in the process, by ensuring that large number of Nigerian universities submitted their proposals.

He, however, urged all the 10 centres in the country to relentlessly pursue the goals and objectives of the project.

His words: “We must focus on the goals of the project, which aims at firstly, meeting the demand for skills required for the development of the sub-region, and secondly, strengthening the capacities of the best African universities within science related education to enable them deliver high quality training and applied research.”