. . . Commences Centres of Excellence

Hensard University, a newly established private university, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State, has announced its collaborations with distinguished individuals from the Creative Arts, Sciences, and Climate Research. The partnerships are to promote the Film School, Centre for Genomics and Bioscience, and Centre for climate Research, initiatives that Hensard University would use to deepen the Hensard Advantage in those fields.

The Chancellor, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, held separate meetings with Chief Zeb Ejiro, OON, a legend of Nigeria’s film industry, and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Association of Movie Producers of Nigeria, engaged in a productive conversation with the Senator Dickson, regarding the Film School, and the Department of Film and Multimedia Studies.

Chief Ejiro praised the initiative and its capacities to produce future creative entrepreneurs who could bring more freshness to the industry.

Senator Dickson said the Film School would equip aspiring artists with knowledge and entrepreneurial skills to fill gaps in the industry. He also announced the expansion of Agriculture scholarship to include Department of Film and Multimedia Studies, Environmental sciences and ICT through the Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation.

He called for increased support from governments and institutions to nurture talent in Niger Delta communities as a proactive measure to build on an improved future for the region.

In another meeting, Senator Dickson welcomed Dr. Nnaemeka Ndodo, a distinguished Molecular Bioengineer and former Chief Molecular Bioengineer of the National Reference Laboratory of the National Centre for Disease Control, to join Hensard University’s Centre for Genomics and Bioscience.

The Senator expressed his commitment to establishing the university as a premier hub for scientific research, urging parents and students passionate about the Sciences to enrol at Hensard University where solid foundations have been laid to cultivate the next generation of world class scientists and innovators.

Hensard University has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Centre for Atmospheric Research of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). The agreement was sealed at Hensard University. It was the second MOU that Hensard University was signing to strengthen Research Centres at its Faculty of Environmental Sciences. On October 29, 2023 Hensard University and Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMET, led by its then Director-General, Professor Mansur Bako Matazu signed an MOU that included climate and weather monitoring. Prof. Shadrack Benson Jatau, Hensard's Director of Academic Planning, and former President, Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers, signed on behalf of the university.

In the NASRDA MOU, both parties agreed on a collaboration on joint research activities, scientific workshops/conferences, staff exchange, capacity building, academic visits, students supervision, and air quality and climate monitoring, as well as sensitisation campaigns in the Niger Delta region where pollution from oil and gas explorations remains a major concern.

Hensard University will host an Atmospheric Science laboratory with state-of-the-art instruments for researches in air pollutants, meteorological variables and climate observations towards measures to save lives, the environment and ecosystems.

Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Dileep Kumar said the wide scope of the partnership covered key areas of climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The MOU is to:

- Establish joint academic and scholarly cooperative linkages on teaching, research and community services on climate change in Nigeria. The overall aim is to improve the country's response to effects of climate change in form of nationally determined contribution.

- Exchange of departmental, technical staff of the two institutions for short, medium or long term, to enhance and guarantee further climate and environmental research a scholarly cooperation in teaching and research.

- Organise and execute joint projects and facilitate access to funds from international organisations and foundations such as, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, World Bank, MNSOFF, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Africa Development Bank.

- Provide environmental and climate monitoring equipment to enhance teaching, research and development especially with the Centre for Environment and Climate Research at Hensard University.

- Organise joint conferences, seminars, symposia, special short term academic programmes -vocational, cultural, tourism.

- Exchange publications for scientific, scholarly, teaching, information dissemination on the climate to strengthen the relationship between NiMET and Hensard University.

- Jointly source and apply for both local and international research and project grants to enhance teaching, research and development between the two parties.

NASDRA's Executive Director, Dr Ibrahim Yakubu Tudunwada, who signed for the agency, said his organisation looked forward to an engaging relationship that would contribute solutions to the challenges in the sector. Dr Najib Yusuf Galadanci, NASDRA's Assistant Director, Research and the signing of the MOU.

Hensard University Chancellor Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, at the event, said the university lays emphases on researches that would break frontiers of knowledge and improve the lot of humanity.

At Hensard University, Senator Dickson said, the students are being taught to solve problems in various areas of society’s needs. The agreements on climate change, environment, he said, were among collaborations and linkages that Hensard University is creating to make relevant contributions to society.

Hensard University, a new, innovative, private institution, is dedicated to providing international, ethical education with a focus on entrepreneurship, innovation and practical skills.

Its dual certification programmes, which offer students the opportunity to earn global qualifications, international student exchange programmes foster cultural diversity and provide invaluable experiences, in addition to established strong linkages, collaborations, and affiliations with renowned institutions and cutting-edge research centres worldwide.

These strategic partnerships with NASRDA and NiMET highlight Hensard University's commitment to academic excellence and its dedication to addressing pressing climate challenges. By leveraging the expertise and resources of these renowned institutions, Hensard University aims to spearhead groundbreaking research, foster knowledge sharing, and contribute to sustainable development in Nigeria.

Prof. Dr. Dileep Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of Hensard University, expressed his enthusiasm for these collaborations, emphasising the significant impact they will have on climate research and education. He stated, "These partnerships represent a major milestone in our journey toward Hensard University becoming a hub for climate research and innovation. By joining forces with NASRDA and NiMET, we are well-positioned to make substantial contributions to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, both regionally and nationally."

Senator Dickson’s unwavering commitment to fostering diverse avenues of growth and development at Hensard University is evident through his efforts to promote both the creative arts and scientific research.

By providing opportunities for young talents to thrive in these critical sectors, Hensard University envisions a future where Nigeria's creative and scientific industries flourish.

•PHOTO: Hensard University Chancellor, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, with NASDRA'S Executive Director, Dr Ibrahim Yakubu Tudunwada, right, Prof Dileep Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Hensard, left, DVC Prof Prekeyi Tawari-Fufeyin, and Prof Shedrack Benson Jatau, Director of Academic Planning at the signing of the agreement.

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