Two varsities formalise mentorship agreement

Authorities of the newly- established Lux Mundi University, Umuahia, Abia State and the Catholic-owned Godfrey Okoye University (GOUNI), Ugwuomu, Enugu State have formalised a mentorship agreement in line with the directives of the National University Commission (NUC).

This is as Vice President, Kasim Shettima and  Abia State Governor Alex Otti,  will on  Friday, November 22,  officially unveil the Lux Mundi University.

The NUC, which granted operational licence to the Lux Mundi University, had directed the GOUNI to  serve as its mentor to ensure its survival in line with the Catholic background of its founder/proprietor.

Speaking shortly after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with authorities of the GOUNI in Enugu, Pro-chancellor of Lux Mundi University, Prof Gabriel Chinedum Okenwa, stated that the NUC must have been motivated in directing the new university to the GOUNI by its standard of operation. He explained that GOUNI had maintained an exceptional standard in its 15 years of existence as a private establishment.

“So for us, it is an opportunity to learn and unlearn from this great institution to enable achieve our set targets. We want to run a University that wil set the pace in every field. We want to compete with our peers in all aspect of what a university should be, being the first university on the soil of Umuahia, the capital of Abia state”, Okenwa stated

Okenwa, who described the new university as a “design and mandate from Almighty God,” explained that it had taken off with two faculties.

He also spoke on the permanent site of the university and the efforts being made  to build it to an enviable status, stressing that,  “Our permanent site is 180 hectares; certificated and gazette by the Abia State government; we have started developing about 10 hectares out of 180.”

The Pro-chancellor further commented on his vision of the university; “My vision is to make Lux Mundi one of the best universities east of the Niger; and on the global scene, to interact and work with global institutions to raise research and to raise men and women of good will that will be able and confident entrepreneurial leaders worldwide.

“I am from a humble background and grew up where it was difficult to have a square meal daily.

“I want to give back to society. I am making this narration to inspire the young ones that you can through hard work make money; that you can make honest money not through fraud or being a politician; but you can make money through honest means with which you can build a university”.

Vice Chancellor GOUNI, Prof Christian Anieke said: “The  Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) we signed is to enable us to give the new university all that it requires to succeed; so that it can grow and expand and become light not just for the southeast but for Nigeria and the whole world.

“It may get to a point where we will even be learning from them; the young shall grow and even become stronger than the old. And that’s what we want; our prayer in Igboland is that my child should be greater than I. Our prayer is that Lux Mundi should be greater than GOUNI so that others should learn from them.”

He added that by the MoU, both universities would exchange lecturers, ideas and engage in areas of mutual cooperation to attain highest standards in education.

 “Some of their lecturers are coming to this place and we will be sending lecturers from GOUNI to Lux Mundi. Also, our students will be going there and their students will be coming here. We are also going to encourage healthy competitions among students of both institutions and other academic things that can help students to grow.

“We have to collaborate with them in research. We are a member of the African UNET, which is a network of about 100 universities across Africa. We are going to bring them in Austria and in Africa; because I’m a Board member, I will bring them in to be part of it. So we share the ideas and other things to enhance growth and expansion”, Prof Anieke added.