Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has taken another bold step towards harnessing the potentials of the nation’s telecoms sector by instituting a N30 million professorial chair at University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka, bringing to seven the number of such intellectual investments since 2019.
The NCC maintained as total and decisive its commitment to boosting quality and cutting-edge academic research geared towards stimulating the growth, innovation and development of the nation’s telecoms sector.
The endowment ceremony which attracted a large audience drawn from the NCC, UNN, National Universities Commission (NUC), network providers, civil society organizations and the media, took place at the NCC’s head corporate office in Maitama, Abuja some days ago with the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Aminu Maida presiding.
The NCC boss said that the commission remained committed to fostering academic excellence, encouraging research and promoting innovation within the telecommunications industry, in furtherance of its mandate.
“Over the years, the Commission has been dedicated to fostering academic excellence, encouraging research, and promoting innovation within the telecommunications industry.
”Recognizing the pivotal role that Universities play in shaping the intellectual landscape of our nation, we have consistently supported the establishment of Professorial Chairs, ensuring the availability of resources for cutting-edge research and knowledge creation.
‘’Since 2019, the Commission has endowed Seven (7) Federal Universities in Nigeria with Professorial Chairs, firmly believing in the power of academia to drive thorough research, intellectual growth, and societal impact.
“These endowed Chairs have served as the bedrock for distinguished professors to conduct advanced research, mentor students, and add to the body of knowledge in their respective fields of expertise.
“Today, with immense enthusiasm, I am delighted to announce the extension of our support through the endowment of Professorial Chairs at the University of Lagos, Modibbo Adama University in Adamawa, and the University of Nigeria in Nsukka.
“These institutions exemplify a commitment to academic excellence and have carved a path of distinction in their respective domains. They have demonstrated resilience, innovation, and dedication to advancing knowledge, making them ideal partners in our pursuit of intellectual and societal transformation.
He explained that the endowment of Professorial Chairs to the Universities signified the commission’s confidence in their ability to utilize the resources effectively, foster cutting-edge research, and produce tangible outcomes that could shape nation’s future.
Speaking while receiving the endowment, the Vice Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Charles Igwe, said that the N30 million endowment gesture would meaningfully enhance research and innovative culture in the university,
commended NCC for its foresight and initiative to link the academia with the communication industry.
Professor Igwe decried the dominance of the local communications industry by foreign companies and imported products, expressing happiness however that UNN got the grant after going through the rigorous processes for clinching the endowment.
“The endowment will serve as a timely tool for UNN to further enhance its robust result-oriented research and innovation culture with special focus on practical communication technologies for social service delivery and economic empowerment.
“This is especially so in this era where NUC is about to introduce the CCMAS, COREN and Outcome-based Education, OBE, into the engineering curriculum,” he said.
The vice chancellor noted that UNN had adequate resources in engineering, physical and social sciences, as well as a history of successful endowments as centers of excellence.
He gave a pledge that the university would deliver on the project as required by NCC, promising that the endowment would be sustained beyond the NUC’s funding.
The university’s Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Emenike Ejiogu, , thanked the VC for always providing an enabling environment for laudable academic attainments to thrive.
Professor Ejiogu, who is also the Director of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Power and Energy Development (ACE-SPED), advised the staff and students of the faculty to be ready for the implementation of the research activities which come with the professorial chair endowment.
