Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, in collaboration with Central South University, China have agreed to expand their 3+2 double degree partnership, aimed at deepening technology education and skills development in Nigeria.
ABU’s Director of Public Affairs, Malam Auwalu Umar, in a statement to newsmen in Zaria on Sunday, disclosed that the decision to reactivate the partnership followed a virtual meeting on Dec. 19, underscoring renewed commitment to international collaboration to strengthen engineering, science and technology education.
He explained that the partnership, initiated in 2017 under the China-Africa Cooperation framework, allows students to study three years at ABU, and two years at CSU, earning degrees from both institutions.
Also Read: FG adds AI courses to technical education
“The programme commenced in 2018 with 45 ABU students studying in China but was disrupted in 2021 by COVID-19 lockdowns, though it demonstrated strong benefits of cross-border academic cooperation globally,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof. Adamu Ahmed has described the initiative as a flagship model for engineering education, emphasising that the initiative also strengthens global partnerships, boost technology transfer, innovation, research capacity and human capital development in Nigeria.
The VC welcomed the expansion plans covering staff exchange, joint research supervision, renewable energy, computer engineering, and medical sciences.
He described the ABU–CSU partnership as a strong example of China–Africa cooperation in technology advancement. NAN
