- American University of Nigeria

Transcription

www.aun.edu.ng
Lamido Zubairu Way, Yola By-pass, P.M.B. 2250, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria
A
April - June 2016 • 79th Edition
8th Commencement
International Students Shine as 210 Graduate
t the Eighth Commencement
on May 14, AUN graduated
the highest number of international students in its history, totaling
29. They include 16 Rwandans who
graduated from the University’s prestigious Petroleum Chemistry program.
“In a few moments these seniors from
Nigeria, Rwanda, Cameroon and South
Africa will become graduates of what
is now truly Africa’s first “Development
University”, an elated President Ensign
said in her opening remarks.
Gregory Beti Tanyi from Cameroon
emerged the class valedictorian,
becoming only the second foreign student,
after Ms. Naima Samuel from Pakistan,
who was valedictorian of the university’s
inaugural Commencement in 2009.
One of the 50-plus international
students at AUN, Valedictorian Tanyi, who
studied Telecoms & Wireless, spoke about
how the University has instilled in him a
tremendous fire, a passion for life, and a
desire to make the world better.
“We came onto campus four years ago
with different backgrounds and different
life experiences. We are the most diverse
class this prestigious institution has ever
seen. We are now set to begin the next
chapter in our book. Our book will veer off
from the outline we created, for therein lies
L-r: Mr. Kingsley Jima; His Excellency Atiku
Abubakar GCON; Mr. Gregory Tanyi; and
Ms. Maryam Lawan
the beauty of our journey.”
Twenty-nine Graduate and 181 Bachelor’s
degrees were awarded this year. Forty-six
of the undergraduates were on the honors
roll. The highest degree, Summa Cum
Laude, was conferred on four of the first
degree students: Ebenezer P. Dariye,
Daniel I. Egbe, Teyim M. Pila, and
Gregory B. Tanyi. Magna Cum Laude was
conferred on nine students and seven
others graduated Cum Laude.
In the Graduate category, two received
MBA, 14 the Postgraduate Diploma in
Management, seven the Master of
Technology (IT), five the Master of
Technology (Telecommunications),
and one the Postgraduate Diploma
(IT).
The School of Arts and Sciences
produced the most bachelor’s degrees
with 81, followed by the School of
Information Technology with 68, and
the School of Business and Entrepreneurship with 32.
The Outstanding Faculty Award
for the year was presented to the Chair
of the Accounting program, Professor
Samuel Akanno.
This year’s Commencement had
two Class Speakers: Mr. Kingsley Jima
Celestine and Ms. Maryam Ma’aji Lawan.
President Ensign described the Class of
2016 as “our first class to fully live out our
mission as a ‘Development University.’”
“Courageous, thoughtful, innovative,
and skilled, we are sending them out as our
ambassadors. We are sending them out
into the world to help make it a better
place. But we are happy and proud that
you are now leaving us—proud of your
accomplishments, and confident for you as
you embark upon the next stage of your
lives”, the President said.
‘Look No Further Than AUN for
World Class Education’
F
ounder of the Global International College, Mrs. Abolaji Osime, has acknowledged
AUN’s reputation for providing world class education. GIC is a finishing school
with campuses in Abuja and Lagos that prepares college-ready students for university
matriculation.
Mrs. Osime told parents to consider AUN as an option that has the quality they seek
abroad. “Not all parents should be sending their children to Europe or America, when
there is a credible alternative in Nigeria known as AUN.” The proprietress acknowledged
that AUN shares the same vision as GIC of preparing students for life through excellent
education, facilities and training. She suggested that such shared vision made a cogent
case for the two institutions to partner. She was responding to President Ensign’s
graduation address read on her behalf by Chief Information Officer Julius Ayuk Tabe.
Ayuk Tabe told the graduating students to dream big.
“As you set your sight on the future, please aim for the stars. The tragedy in life is
not for those who aim high and miss; it is for those who aim low and hit.”
Amazing Verse Shom: Speaker @ AUN, Valedictorian @ Tulane – P9
Class of 2016, First to
Live Out AUN’s Mission as a
Development University
C
Wherever
They Go, They
Distinguish
Themselves
Excerpts from President Ensign’s Welcome Remarks
lass of 2016, today’s world needs your dreams. Today’s
world needs your courage. And it needs the fruits of the
university education that you have obtained here with us—
which has been a different kind of education.
Since its founding more than a decade ago, AUN has been
refining and re-thinking what it means to be an African university for the 21st century.
From the very start, the Founder of this university was determined that AUN should
be something new. He wanted us to be a different kind of university.
He wanted us to be a university focused on solving the problems of a developing
Nigeria and a developing Africa. He wanted the American University of Nigeria to be a
“Development University.” It had never been done before.
This class, the Class of 2016, I believe—I know—has been our first class to fully live
out our mission as a “Development University.”
To read President Ensign’s welcome remarks in full, go to:
http://www.americanuniversitynigeria.org/events/commencement-2016/171-2016-commencement/
1411-president-s-welcome-remarks
To watch President Ensign’s welcome remarks on our YouTube channel, go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs1GS_7ICuc&index=3&list=PLDbFZl3_V1BkwBhkF_QXV3hbDFSvC3ECl
N
AUN Can Make the NorthEast
Nigeria’s Tech-Hub
Excerpts from Commencement Speaker,
Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi’s Address
ow for a word on innovation and technology, because I want you to see yourselves
as the global future leaders, not just leaders of this country. Innovation and science
have a key role to play in answering many of our biggest multilateral challenges. I must
emphasize that technology does not just mean information and communication technology
– it is medical, agricultural technology. These innovations consistently emerge from
academic institutions, and research faculties housed within academic institutions. The
presence of Stanford is causal, not consequential, to the emergence of Silicon Valley
The vision for the northeast should be to make it the Silicon Valley of Nigeria, with
this University at the heart of that drive. As Lagos is the financial hub of the country, the
northeast has the potential to become the technology hub. This is what the modern
economy is all about. Creativity. Ambition. Smart use of new technology. It’s also about
having an international outlook. The ambition is to leverage off our human capital
potential, and export ideas not just across borders, but across continents. We must
participate in the global marketplace. Many areas of experimental research, such as the
development of new or improved products in the agricultural industry or renewable
energy technology, or new sustainable processes in the extraction of natural resources,
have global benefits. This university can represent the future of science in the country;
which will ultimately position it as the future of our economy and the global marketplace
– through science and innovation turned into commercial application.
Technology in its application stems from innovation. Ultimately it boils down to
individuals and individual creativity. It is too easy to make excuses, especially in a system
as ours, which is weighted towards the already-successful who wield power. However,
let me tell you: Nobody has a monopoly on innovation. Every student at this University
has the potential to be the catalyst of development. Create the growth that you seek.
To read the 2016 Commencement Speaker’s address in full, go to:
http://www.americanuniversitynigeria.org/events/commencement-2016/171-2016-commencement/
1412-commencement-speaker-s-address
To watch the 2016 Commencement Speaker’s address on our YouTube channel, go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYRCFLXRHE4&list=PLDbFZl3_V1BkwBhkF_
QXV3hbDFSvC3ECl&index=5
2
BoT Chair, Akin Kekere-Ekun Pays
Tribute to the Quality of AUN Graduates
“I wish I could send my
children here but they are a lot
older. But I’m proud to be part
of this University.”
F
rom what you have seen here today,
it is obvious that our products are
products that we can be proud of. They are
students that become graduates and wherever they go they distinguish themselves.
They have the confidence, which has
been instilled in them by the various
lecturers. I want to basically thank the
parents in particular for entrusting these
ladies and gentlemen to AUN. Tonight
[Graduation Awards ceremony], we are
very happy that you have entrusted your
children to us and we have products that
we can be proud of as a University.
I wish I could send my children here but
they are a lot older than them. But I’m
proud to be part of this University. For
those who have had access to the Graduate
School through this institution, it is obvious
that there is something different about
them. In terms of community development, these students take part in what goes
on in their environment and they impact on
the citizens of Yola.
We must thank the Founder for giving
this opportunity to the students because if
this University was not established in Yola,
this opportunity could not have been there.
And we must particularly thank the president
of the University, because she is so particular
about letting these students take part in
community development aspects. So we
congratulate them. But today is for the
students that are graduating and they have
shown everybody here today that they are
different. They have confidence, they have
integrity and they have the love of the
environment in which they live. I am sure
that by the time they leave the University
and go into the world out there—be it
employee or postgraduate student—they
will be successful. I wish you the best and
I know and I am sure the faculty in place
will even pass out better students next year.
University-Sponsored Awards
Class of 2016
Top Honors Graduates
Summa Cum Laude
Gregory B. Tanyi
B.Sc., Telecoms & Wireless Technologies
Ebenezer P. Dariye
B.Sc., Natural & Environmental Science
Daniel l. Egbe
B.Sc., Petroleum Chemistry
Teyim M. Pila
B.Sc., Computer Science
Magna Cum Laude
Zamiyat O. Abubakar
B.Sc., Communications & Multimedia
A. UNDERGRADUATE:
AWARDS FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
School of Arts & Sciences
a. Natural & Environmental Sciences Ebenezer Plangnan Dariye
b. Petroleum Chemistry Daniel Isong Otu Egbe
c. Economics Chidinma Lucia Ukwungwu
d. International & Comparative Politics Kenechukwu Nneka Lily Nwagbo
e. Communications & Multimedia Design Zamiyat O. Abubakar
f. Overall best graduating student Ebenezer Plangnan Dariye
School of Business & Entrepreneurship
a. Accounting Uduak Abasi Jacob
b. Overall best graduating student Uduak Abasi Jacob
Fatima Z. Ali
B.Sc., Software Engineering
School of Information Technology &
Computing
a. Software Engineering Fatima Zahra’u Ali
b. Computer Science Teyim Muluh Pila
c. Information Systems Aliyu Waziri
d. Telecommunications & Wireless Technology Gregory Beti Tanyi
e. Overall best graduating student Gregory Beti Tanyi
Jean D. Iyakaremye
Uduak A. Jacob
B.Sc., Accounting
Gervais Manizabayo
Kenechukwu N. Nwagbo
BA, International & Comparative Politics
Johnpaul I. Offor
Muma J. Ticha
Eugene Uwiringiyimana
Cum Laude
Awa D. Assahna
Abo-Ojo P. Atabo
BA, Economics
Marilyn C. Elechi
Chi A. Fonkam
Paul V. Ntwali
Christiana O. Okere
Chidinma L. Ukwungwu
BA, Economics
B. GRADUATE:
AWARDS FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
a. Post Graduate Diploma in Management Mosugu Ebenmosi
b. School of Information Technology &
Computing Amal Babangida
c. Overall best graduating student Amal Babangida
C. PROVOST AWARD FOR
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
a. Best Undergraduate
Graduating Student Gregory Beti Tanyi
b. Best Graduate Graduating Student Amal Babangida
D. COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
• Asmau Abubakar Umar
• Ibrahim Abubakar Radda
E. ATHLETIC AWARD
• Hassanu Umar
• Marilyn Elechi
F. PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR
EXCELLENCE AND LEADERSHIP
• Blessing Douglas
• Eugene Uwiringiyimana
• Siddiki Hamadou
NUC: Why Nigerian
Universities Should Emulate AUN
I
n a goodwill message to AUN on the 8th Commencement, the National Universities
Commission’s Executive Secretary, Professor Julius Okojie, identified achievements
that distinguish AUN from Nigeria’s other 142 universities. Noting the impact of AUN
in its area, he said, “Nigerian university communities should similarly seek more
innovative ways of being relevant to their immediate communities through life-changing
programs and activities.”
He commended AUN’s linkages with reputable universities in America and Europe,
and its program of scholarships and other financial aid to 15 percent of its students.
Professor Okojie further noted that despite its American-oriented curriculum, AUN observes
all Nigerian statutes and has continued to work effectively with NUC.
Corporate-Sponsored Awards
West African Catering Ltd. Award
for Academic Excellence – 500,000
Gervais Manizabayo, BSc, Petroleum Chemistry
Ebenezer Plangnan Dariye, BSc, Natural &
Environmental Sciences
Daniel Isong Otu Egbe, BSc, Petroleum Chemistry
Intels Nigeria Ltd. Award
for Excellence and Leadership – 500,000
Blessing Douglas, BA, International &
Comparative Politics
Siddiki Hamadou, BA, International &
Comparative Politics
Eugene Uwiringiyimana, BSc, Petroleum Chemistry
Leadway Assurance Company Ltd. Award
for Academic Excellence Best Female Graduating Students – 500,000
Ali, Fatima Zahra’u, BSc, Software Engineering
Zamiyat O. Abubakar, BSc, Communications
& Multimedia Design
Kenechukwu Nneka Lily Nwagbo, BA,
International & Comparative Politics
Royal Exchange Healthcare Ltd. Award
Teyim Muluh Pila, BSc, Computer Science
Mosugu Ebenmosi, Post Graduate Diploma,
Management
AIICO Pensions Award
Muma Justice Ticha, BSc, Computer Science
Nigeria Customs Service Dikko Inde Award
Emmanuel Zorto, BSc, Accounting
Sigma Pensions Ltd. Award
Jean D’amour Iyakaremye, BSc, Petroleum Chemistry
Heritage Bank Award
Uduak Abasi Jacob, BSc, Accounting
Heritage Bank Award
for Leadership – 500,000
Chidinma Lucia Ukwungwu, BA, Economics
Johnpaul Izuchukwu Offor, BSc, Natural &
Guaranty Trust Bank Award
for Academic Excellence and Leadership – 500,000
Idris Ja’afar Gidado, BSc, Accounting
Adama Beverages Ltd. FARO Award
for Community Service – 500,000
Asmau Abubakar Umar, BSc, Information Systems
Ibrahim Abubakar Radda, BSc, Natural &
Haruna Musa Award
for Academic Excellence – Valedictorian – 500,000
Gregory Beti Tanyi, BSc, Telecommunications
& Wireless Technologies
Quanteq Technologies Award
Awa Desmoline Assahna, BSc, Computer Science
Paul Owoicho, BSc, Software Engineering
Omonu Utene Atabo, BSc, Information Systems
Gregory Beti Tanyi, BSc, Telecommunications
& Wireless Technologies
3
2016 Valedictorian Gregory Tanyi
Reflects on His AUN Experience
T
he first step of my unforgettable AUN journey was taken in the
fall semester of 2012. Leaving my home country Cameroon to
climb the next rung of my academic ladder in Nigeria was a huge
moment of my life. I have a vivid recollection of my memories
when I just joined this prestigious institution. During my freshman
orientation session, I could feel the rush of adrenaline in me as I
was introduced to various facets of the AUN life: the world-class
faculty, the diverse and brilliant student body, the top-notch
facilities—a combination which gave me the gut feeling that this
was the place to be.
My student life in this prestigious institution is one I have fond
memories of. With my freshman year being one mainly for
adaptation, I meant business in my second year as I was appointed 2016 Valedictorian Gregory Tanyi delivering his address
the Vice-President of the French club. This gave me the impetus to
join the Student Government Association as the international student representative and
“My most intriguing
later as the director of academic affairs. My most intriguing experience as a student leader
experience came in my final
however came in my final year when I was elected the president of the AUN Honor
year when I was elected
Society. These opportunities fine-tuned my leadership abilities and taught me life’s
greatest lesson: a life well lived is one lived for others. As I approach the twilight of my
President of the AUN
stay in AUN, I am full of gratitude to the wealth of knowledge this place has given to
Honor Society.”
me in all facets of life.
Valedictorian’s Father, a Professor of Engineering, Declares:
‘Greg is Very Gifted; We Reject Credit for That’
British-educated (Sheffield University)
father of Valedictorian Gregory B. Tanyi, Dr.
Emmanuel B. Tanyi, a control engineer and
founding Dean at the Faculty of Engineering,
the University of Buya, Cameroon’s first and
biggest English-speaking university, says that
AUN education was his son’s choice. Son
Gregory Beti Tanyi graduated Summa Cum
Laude, emerging as the valedictorian of the
Class of 2016. Dr. Tanyi spoke to Omorogbe
Omorogiuwa during the May Commencement.
Below are excerpts:
Dr. and Mrs. Emmanuel Tanyi and their son
Gregory
I
am very happy [about Gregory’s
achievement]. Our son has been very
good academically at all levels, right
through the secondary school level in
Cameroon, but to come through a university like AUN, where you have very good
students, and emerge as the best graduating
student gives us a very good feeling.
Having a child who performs well at the
pre-university level is no guarantee that
4
that performance will be maintained right
through the university. [It’s not easy] for
you to be among your peers who are high
achievers and still maintain that level of
performance.
It’s just God’s grace. He is a very gifted
child. We can’t take credit for it. There is
nothing that we did to make him a higher
achiever that we didn’t do to the other four
children. It is a very good thing for the
young man and I’m sure it will open doors
for him. From the perspective of his own
career and the opportunities that may come
his way, what happened in AUN here is
quite important.
I did my first degree in Engineering, the
master’s degree, and the PhD, all in the
UK. I spent a lot of time in the UK. I am a
product of that system. We parents have
learned to listen to our children. When
Greg was preparing for his A-levels, they
(with his classmates) were using the
Internet a lot. He got to know about AUN
and the programs here. Subsequently when
he told me that he wanted to come to AUN,
I didn’t tie him down to the British system
of education that I am used to. When we
looked at the programs available, the only
advice I gave him was that probably
Telecommunications & Wireless will be
more in tune to the IT era.
Five years ago, I didn’t even know that
there is a university like this in Nigeria and
now my son has been here for four years.
Some of the Cameroonians here who work
at AUN visited Cameroon and tried to get
high school students to know something
about AUN as an option open to them.
Some information filtered through to parents but it was still not enough. So, I’m
thankful that my son got to know about
AUN. I have seen him grow. I have seen
him mature. He’s bright. But I think AUN
has brought a lot out of him. AUN has
added value to him. When he comes home
on holidays, I talk to him; I see the level of
academic maturity.
AUN is a very good university. I came
here four years ago when I brought my son
Gregory, and I did a tour of the campus to
see the facilities. I was impressed then, but
now I’m even more impressed. This
concept of an e-library is something I am
thinking of implementing in my own
faculty when I get back home. There are
innovations. So, AUN is on the move.
I will definitely want to send other
children to AUN.
Gregory’s mother, Mrs. Agnes Tanyi, is the
Littoral Region’s Director of Taxation in
Cameroon. Her words:
I really love the environment. I could
never have imagined something like this in
Yola. I remember when Greg was coming,
I was not comfortable, you know, having
been in Britain. My husband said let us just
give it a try. Now, I’m so impressed and
happy with what we have seen.
Our Lives Will Forever Be Altered
After We Toss Our Caps into the Air
Gregory B. Tanyi – Class Valedictorian
Graduation is one of those awkward times in our lives
when we are torn between the joy of our memories and the
excitement of our future. Should we look back on what were
the greatest four years of our lives – times filled with joy
from the boisterous sounds of that first day in Yola’s sunshine, the aroma of egusi
soup in the AUN cafeteria, the rush of adrenaline we felt as we explored this
beautiful campus? Or instead should we focus on the next stage in this journey
called life? We’ve been impatiently waiting for this day for four years – and now,
we just want to hit pause. We want to slow it down, and enjoy the last fleeting
moments. Our lives will be forever altered after we toss our caps into the air.
We entered the loving confines of our beloved AUN four years ago as an
unwritten book, eager to fill the pages. It seems like just yesterday we were lugging
our countless bags into the resident halls wondering how we got to Yola. It seems
like just yesterday we had orientation and had the pleasure of listening to our
beloved Dr. Ensign tell us we are the future of Africa. We walked onto the AUN
campus for the first time as students in the fall of 2012 having to work as never
before every four months to score a GPA as close to four as possible.
To read the 2016 Valedictorian’s Speech in full, go to:
http://www.americanuniversitynigeria.org/events/commencement-2016/1712016-commencement/1416-class-of-2016-valedictorian-gregory-beti-tanyi
To watch the 2016 Valedictorian’s Speech on our YouTube channel, go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6nMHlSIhrw&index=1&list=PLDbFZl3_V1BkwBhkF_
QXV3hbDFSvC3ECl
AUN Has Drawn A Thin Line Between the
Classroom & Reality
Maryam Lawan – Class Speaker
I see my friends and colleagues rubbing their hands,
eager to climb up to the stage to snatch their degrees
and run into the world. But as cartoonist Garry said,
“Commencement speeches were designed to ensure that
outgoing college students are never released into the world until they have been
carefully sedated.”
Permit me to say that America has the seed, but Nigeria has the soil. The great
American seed has been planted in us, and indeed we shall sprout, because Nigeria
is the soil. Samson Adda said, “As we suck the seed, we shall suc-ceed.”
Coming to this university was never an option for me. My goal was not to
attend an American school, but it was my dream to go to school anywhere in
America. Today, I have no regrets.
As I stand before you today, I am confident in my words when I say, that
I’m not just a reflection, but I am a mirror image of the American University of
Nigeria, because we are a simulation of the exclusive AUN experience.
AUN has drawn a thin line between the classroom and reality, hence re-affirming
itself as a development university. We have been equipped with the skills to
develop our community, through community service, sustainability programs, and
social entrepreneurship.
To read the 2016 Class Speaker’s speech in full, go to:
http://www.americanuniversitynigeria.org/events/commencement-2016/171-2016-commencement/1415-class-of-2016-speaker-maryam-maina-ma-aji-lawan
To watch the 2016 Class Speaker’s speech on our YouTube channel, go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e2MLsXCzUI&index=2&list=PLDbFZl3_V1BkwBhkF_
QXV3hbDFSvC3ECl
In My Time AUN
Made Ground-breaking
Innovations and Creative
Ideas
Kingsley C. Jima – Class Speaker
I am happy to be part of this
generation. You know why? Because
it is in my time that the American
University of Nigeria got to have the
most brilliant mixture of students
from the different parts of the world.
It is in my time that AUN had the
greatest number of Cameroonians. It
is in my time that this same institution
had the most South African students.
As if that is not enough, it is in my
time that AUN is graduating the most
Rwandan students. It is in my time
that we got to have a Ugandan among
us, a Ghanaian and the list goes on. It
is in my time that the rescued Chibok
girls blended with us and we gave
them a home.
It is in my time that AUN made
marks with its groundbreaking
innovations and creative ideas. It is in
my time that banner became obsolete
because someone saw the need to
open all closed ERPs, to introduce the
TELA program, and the Feed and
Read program among others. People,
it is in my time that the monumental
digital library of AUN and the first
ever eco-friendly sustainability building were commissioned. All these
successes presented themselves in my
time, all these glories we have seen,
in our time. It all happened with this
very set seated here.
To read the 2016 2nd Class Speaker’s
address in full, go to:
http://www.americanuniversitynigeria.org/
events/commencement-2016/171-2016commencement/1414-class-of-2016speaker-kingsley-jima-celestine
To watch the 2016 2nd Class Speaker’s
speech on our YouTube channel, go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTj7yf
Y72nA&list=PLDbFZl3_V1BkwBhkF_
QXV3hbDFSvC3ECl&index=4
5
Voices of the Best
Never Use the Past to
Define the Future
Ms. Anuoluwapo Bankole
Class of 2016, confront your limitations
and challenge your challenges. Never be
afraid to start small because the opposite
of faith is not doubt but fear. Never fail to
go to any length to achieve a goal; remember
that the earth will always reward us all for
the actions we take, whether good or bad.
Once you are properly equipped, you will
get to the top, no matter what. Devote more
energy into being the best you can be.
Surprise every single being around you
with the positive aura you exhibit. Never
use the past as a yardstick to define your
future; rather harness the opportunities past
mistakes present to us, because these are
locked doors to a greater future and we are
master keys!
To read the speech in full, go to:
http://www.americanuniversitynigeria.org/events
/commencement-2016/171-2016-commencement/1413-anuoluwapo-bankole
The AUN
Environment is a
Catalyst for Change
Ms. Yasmin Abdulkadir
If there is one thing that was emphasized in my chemistry classes it is that in
every chemical reaction, the environment
of the reaction is probably more important
than the starting materials. The pressure,
temperature, concentration, and the type of
catalyst needs to be just right to get the
desirable outcome from the reaction. We
all came from different countries, backgrounds, tribes, and religions but have all
been made leaders under the AUN environment. This goes to show that there is
never just one single prototype for what a
leader should be; instead, anyone can be a
leader if their great ideas are stimulated
and nurtured just as ours have been in this
University.
http://www.americanuniversitynigeria.org/events
/commencement-2016/171-2016-commencement/1421-yasmin-abdulkadir
6
At AUN, Your Weakness Becomes Your Greatest Strength
Ibrahim Bashir Bashir
When I was admitted into AUN in Spring 2012, I enrolled into ENT
101 (Entrepreneurship). And as part of the requirements for the final grade
of that course, we were directed to develop a business plan and present it to the class.
When the time for that presentation came, I could not stand in front of 20 of my
colleagues to deliver the presentation. I was ridiculously shy. It was a very frustrating
and disheartening experience.
Four and a half years later, here I am (same person) standing in front of over 2,000
people and representing Africa’s future leaders. This is no miracle. It is just the AUN
effect. I know the people that last saw me in 2012 are still finding it difficult to believe.
The bottom line is that whoever you are and wherever you come from, when you
come into AUN with a weakness, that weakness will gradually turn out to be your strength.
http://www.americanuniversitynigeria.org/events/commencement-2016/171-2016commencement/1418-ibrahim-bashir-bashir
AUN is Our Very Own Ivy League, the Best in Nigeria
Ms. Diana G. Nde
The big thing about college is that you get to discover who you really
are regardless of what your major is. I have discovered a lot about myself,
I have grown in leaps and bounds. Before coming here, my passion was to become a
successful neurosurgeon like Ben Carson. All that changed when AUN introduced me
to community service. Now I am proud to say that my passion has shifted to helping
children. I have learned so many things here. Seeing how waste is being converted to
something useful is quite amazing. Witnessing the wonderful leadership skills of our
President Ensign, the environmental passion of Dr. Reith, the ever-friendly Senior VP
Bullock, and many more have made my stay here an even better one.
http://www.americanuniversitynigeria.org/events/commencement-2016/171-2016commencement/1420-diana-nde
At left, Founder His Excellency Atiku Abubakar
and President Margee Ensign happily
prepare for AUN’s 8th Commencement.
Below, Founder His Excellency Atiku
Abubakar and the Lamido Adamawa, HRH
Alh. Dr. Muhammadu Barkindo Musdafa
The President’s
daughter, Katherine
Aronson-Ensign (2nd
left); nieces Veronica
and Kathleen; and
Mrs. Hosseini, wife of
BoT member Ahmad
Hosseini (left)
A Degree at AUN
Qualifies You as a
Game-Changer
Siddiki Hamadou
To fall in line with the influential DJ
Kalid, my friends’ graduation is a major
key to success. A key we are holding that
opens a lot of doors. For ordinary graduates
from ordinary schools this will open the door
to graduate school or job opportunity. For
us, graduates of Africa’s first and mightiest
development university, the key will
unlock the door leading to Africa’s development. A degree at AUN does not just
place us as graduates; it qualifies us as
Game Changers. We were not just taught
specific subjects, but all subjects; our
trademark is definitely versatility. In these
walls, in the last for years we took 193
credit hours in all aspects of education—
which gives us an edge over any graduate
anywhere in Africa.
Provost Quesenberry & VP Byron
President Ensign ushering in
HRH the Lamido Adamawa
At right,
visiting and
resident
academics in
their regalia
AUN Education has Given Me An Advantage
Ms. Fatima Z. Ali
The AUN community is culturally diverse with people from all over
the world. The gamut of cultural environments made us develop ourselves.
Every day, you learn from people whose backgrounds and experiences differ from your
own, which sharpens your self-knowledge and self-insight. This has prepared us for
career success in a global society. I have never been more appreciative of this diverse
community than when I attended the last career fair. Employers were looking to hire people
that work well with others and my AUN experience gave me an advantage over the other
candidates.
CLASS OF 2016 – Courageous, thoughtful, innovative & skilled
7
Honor Society
Fêtes Graduating
Members
2016 AUNHS GRADUATES
Abdulmajid Hamza - B.Sc. Computer Science
Abo-Ojo P. Atabo - BA Economics (Minor: ICP)
Above, Dr. Obioma Uche & Mr. Gregory Tanyi
dine with His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, Gov.
Bindow, President Ensign, and other honored
guests
Aimable Niyomugabo - B.Sc. Petroleum Chemistry
Auwal G. Ahmed - B.Sc. Software Engineering
Desmoline Awa - B.Sc. Computer Science
Chi A. Fonkam - B.Sc. Computer Science
Chidinma L. Ukwungwu - BA Economics
Christiana O. Okere B.Sc. Natural & Environmental Science
Daniel l. Egbe - B.Sc. Petroleum Chemistry
Emmanuel Bucyanayandi B.Sc. Petroleum Chemistry
Emmanuel G. Zorto - B.Sc. Accounting
Eric Hagenimana - B.Sc. Petroleum Chemistry
Eugene Uwiringiyimana B.Sc. Petroleum Chemistry
Fatima Z. Ali - B.Sc. Software Engineering
Faustin Hategekimana B.Sc. Petroleum Chemistry
Francois Nkurunziza - B.Sc. Petroleum Chemistry
Gervais Manizabayo - B.Sc. Petroleum Chemistry
Gregory B. Tanyi B.Sc. Telecoms & Wireless Technologies
Jean D. Iyakaremye - B.Sc. Petroleum Chemistry
Johnpaul I. Offor B.Sc. Natural & Environmental Science
Kenechukwu N. Nwagbo BA International & Comparative Politics
Marilyn C. Elechi B.Sc. Natural & Environmental Science
O
n May 12, all 34 graduating members
of the Honor Society were recognized
for their outstanding contributions to the
growth of the Society.
They received awards and certificates
from the Chairman of the Board of
Trustees, Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun, President
Ensign, Provost LeGene Quesenberry, and
Faculty Advisors for the Society, Dr.
Obioma Uche and AVP Reginald Braggs.
The event was the Honor Society
Awards Banquet, a regular feature of the
Commencement activities. It was attended
by the members, and parents of graduating
members.
The Founder, former Vice President HE
Atiku Abubakar and Governor of
Adamawa State, Muhammed Umar Jibrilla
were among the dignitaries present.
The outgoing President of the Society,
Gregory Beti Tanyi, a Telecommunications
& Wireless Technologies major, said that
in the last year the Society had taken steps
At left, Ms. Comfort Afolabi is sworn in as
Honor Society President by AVP Braggs;
Dean Jacob is in the middle
to enhance the quality of its tutorials by
supplementing the service with open
source videos provided by Khan Academy.
“This didn’t just add more depth to the
quality of tutorials, but also gave room for
the Honor Society to offer round-the-clock
service. Every student has access to this
service free of charge.”
Mr. Tanyi said that this year, in its
service to the University’s host community,
the Society organized an academic test for
pupils in a primary school in the community.
The 50 most successful pupils were
awarded scholarships for their entire
primary school education and a few others
had the scholarship covered up to their secondary education level. He said that
funding for this scholarship came from a
social event, Jazz Night, which was
organized by the Society during the year.
Ms. Comfort Afolabi, Finance major, was
sworn in as the next President of the Society.
The oath was administered by Mr. Braggs.
Martin Uwiringiyimana B.Sc. Petroleum Chemistry
Omonu U. Atabo - B.Sc. Information Systems
Oscar Gumiriza - B.Sc. Petroleum Chemistry
Paul M. Ntwali - B.Sc. Petroleum Chemistry
Teyim M. Pila - B.Sc. Computer Science
Muma J. Ticha - B.Sc. Computer Science
Uduak A. Jacob - B.Sc. Accounting
Victory Inyang B.Sc. Natural & Environmental Science
Yasmin Abdulkadir - B.Sc. Petroleum Chemistry
Zamiyat O. Abubakar B.Sc. Communications & Multimedia
Zara Mustapha - B.Sc. Petroleum Chemistry
8
BoT member Dr. Louis Goodman felicitates with graduating AUNHS members
Graduating Seniors Reflect on a Memorable Campus Life
Kingsley Celestine Jima –
Mr. Congeniality
Four years ago, I had no focus, no
insight. I was just a boy who came from St.
Peter’s Seminary to study International and
Comparative Politics. But the story is
different now. I cannot believe how many
leadership positions I have occupied within
this short period of time.
In 2013, I served simultaneously as
president of the sustainability club of AUN
(STARS) and president of the Rotaract
club. While still serving, I was elected
Public Relations Officer of Gabriel Volpi
Residence Hall. It was like a dream when
in the 2014 Homecoming Pageant, I was
crowned Mr. Congeniality. I was made a
mentor by the Advising and Retention
Unit. As a graduate of the Emerging
Leaders’ Academy in 2015, the Students
Government Association made me SGA
Transport Director that same year.
In 2014 and 2015, I represented the
University at the Model United Nations
conference held in New York, and in both
trips, my delegation was recognized for
distinguished and honorable mention. To
crown it all, earlier this year, I was part of
the team that represented the University in
the African American Leadership Experience
in Washington, DC. All these are unforgettable
moments. That is what AUN does to you. It
makes you more than a leader! I hope to go
to a reputable graduate school in order to
grow what AUN has planted in me.
Maryam M. Lawan –
The Chosen One
I have always been taught from home to
take advantage of every opportunity that
comes my way. Coming to AUN was an
opportunity I took to my greatest advantage.
I intend to pursue a Master’s degree in
my area of concentration. I am also looking
forward to my mandatory national youth
service for first-hand experience in the
Nigerian work force, and to gain exposure
from another perspective of life.
Whether in school or in my personal
life, I have always aspired to be outstanding,
which was my inspiration to work towards
being a class representative at the graduation ceremony. I love to speak, and I love
to speak in front of audiences.
Being chosen was a reassurance to me
that the University indeed believes in my
capacity to deliver, and is confidant that
I would be a good ambassador, which is
heartwarming.
I have attained academic knowledge
and I have learned to maintain integrity.
Finally, I have experienced an exciting
student life, which has left me with everlasting memories. I feel accomplished,
having graduated from this prestigious
institution.
Maryam poses with her proud parents and
faculty, Dr. Hassan Yusuf
Verse Shom: Class Speaker @ AUN, Valedictorian @ Tulane
A
UN Alumni Association President,
Verse Cecil Shom, emerged as the
2016 valedictorian at Tulane University,
New Orleans, in the United States.
The celebrated valedictorian served as
Associate Director with the Admissions
Office before pursuing his Master of
Science (MS) in International Development at Tulane University.
“When I enrolled at AUN in the Fall of
2005, my only ambition was to graduate
with a degree,” said Shom, who swept to
the top of his Graduate class at Tulane
University, New Orleans.
“What I got was more, much more!
AUN transformed me in ways beyond my
expectations. I didn’t only get the best
university education available in Nigeria;
I developed leadership skills, IT expertise
and made some of the best friendships to
date, said Shom who was the Speaker at
AUN’s first graduating class in 2009.
“To make an exciting story short, AUN
challenged me to discover and build confidence in my core talents, critical thinking
skills, and ambitions. Even after graduating,
I have been nurtured and exposed professionally by AUN. I continue to rely on my
professors (former and present AUN
faculty) for professional, academic, and
personal development.
“It is almost impossible for me to talk
briefly about my relationship with AUN…
“AUN transformed me in ways beyond
my expectations. I did not only get the best
university education available in Nigeria.
I have no doubt that my training at AUN
has effectively prepared me to excel
anywhere in the world,” says Mr. Shom.
Mr. Shom addressing Tulane Graduation on
May 14
He was mentored and encouraged by
President Ensign, a development scholar to
pursue a career in development. Mr. Shom
owes his success to the stellar foundation
AUN offered him since graduation in 2009,
being in the premier group of alums.
The valedictorian was actively involved
in development work back at Tulane, and
supported and mentored by Board member
Dr. William Bertrand. He was exposed to
the emerging fields of social innovation
(design thinking) and social entrepreneurship as a teaching assistant and graduate
volunteer in the Taylor Center for Social Innovation.
Having understood the importance of
service to the community, he volunteered
in the learning projects in Tulane and New
Orleans community.
Shom also had the opportunity to serve
in the student government at Tulane as the
Secretary General of the Payson Graduate
Students Association 2015-2016. He also
enjoyed the opportunity to be a volunteer
and participant at the Ashoka U-Exchange
conference, 2016 (a global network of
social entrepreneurs and innovators).
When he opted to pursue a career in
development, Dr. Ensign (herself a development scholar) recommended that he
apply to Tulane University.
“Drawing on values I picked up at
AUN, I immersed myself in the Tulane and
New Orleans community, working on service
projects with PlayBuild NOLA, Grow Dat
Youth Farm and Uncommon Constructions.
“I have no doubt that my training at
AUN has effectively prepared me to excel
anywhere in the world.”
9
Bringing Their Children to AUN
Parents Reflect on Their Proudest Decision:
Mr. Douglas Dimkpa and daughter Blessing
Mr. Diepriye Douglas Dimkpa:
AUN Has Prepared Daughter for
Greater Heights
Going down memory lane, my daughter,
Blessing Douglas, was sent here in August
2012. She actually got an admission to
study law at Swansea University, England,
that same year. But I was very worried
about sending her out, knowing how
cultural shock and sometimes environmental
influences can impact a child. So we felt
that it would be better for her to school
here in Nigeria. My first choice was my
alma mater, the University of Nigeria,
Nsukka. But she came up with AUN, Afe
Babalola University, and Covenant
University. I went online, checked out
these schools, and felt that it would be
appropriate for me to send her to this place.
I couldn’t bring her myself in 2012, so
I sent a cousin of mine. When he came
back, he reported that the decision I took
was very appropriate, because what he saw
was a world-class university in Nigeria. It
was a thing of joy to me as a father. We
have so much confidence in her, but you
cannot rule out the fact that influence of
peers can derail a child from set targets.
So, indeed, Blessing was told that she must
continue to protect the family name by
doing what is right, at the right time,
and ensure that she took her studies very
seriously. We also told her from inception
that we are not from a wealthy home, and
that the only way she could excel was to
distinguish herself from the crowd. She
made her promises that she would not
disappoint us. My only regret is that my
father is not alive to see this day, because he
knew that Blessing was going to go places.
Sincerely, I am humbled by her
10
achievements. However, a tree can never
make a forest: we didn’t do it alone. AUN
has successfully molded Blessing from a
lady to a woman. We want to sincerely
thank AUN founder, former Vice President
Atiku Abubakar, and the management of
this institution for all that they are doing
for the students and for the community.
Whether we like it or not, the location of
this university in this state has a multiplier
effect, not only on the economy of the state,
but on the wellbeing of the people.
We believe that AUN, having laid the
foundation for greater things to come, has
prepared Blessing for greater heights, by
pursuing maybe a Master’s degree in this
school or abroad. Above all, she has
distinguished herself as a leader.
Once again, on behalf of my family, I
want to say “thank you” to AUN for all
that it has done for my daughter. And I
want to say to my daughter, “I am proud of
you.” I have never been to any part of the
north. And I must say that I am overwhelmed by the facilities I have seen. Even
the AUN Hotel, food, and environment; it
is very typical of the things we see overseas. So, it’s a message to parents who feel
that the only option they have is to send
their children overseas to think twice.
Any regrets? If the opportunity springs
up again, I will boldly say “Blessing, go
back to AUN,” having seen the impact on
my daughter.
Mrs. Philomena Bankole:
Grateful to AUN
It feels great seeing your first daughter
graduate. I just want to give all the glory
to God who has sustained us and sustained
Anuoluwapo Bankole and seen her
through. I am also grateful to the faculty
members and the University. AUN has
been so wonderful and I just want to thank
God for the Founder, who has brought to
bear his dream, and the dream has also
brought to bear the dream of others,
especially our children.
Mrs. Philomena Bankole
“We believe that AUN
has prepared Blessing for
greater heights.”
Family and friends rejoice with a graduating senior Fatima Zahra’u
– Mr. Douglas Dimkpa
“The American University
of Nigeria lived up to my
expectations. I am very proud
of my son, your alum.”
– HRH Eze Cletus Ilomuanya
HRH Eze Cletus
Ilomuanya & wife
HRH Eze Cletus Ilomuanya & Wife:
AUN Has Lived Up to Expectations
From what I got to see, the American
University of Nigeria lived up to my
expectations. I sent my children to this
university based on the credible reputation
of the Founder, our former Vice President
Atiku Abubakar. I can boldly say I made
the right decision. I am very proud my son,
your alum. I am pleased to see he has been
able to complete this phase of his life. Now
he can move on to greater heights as
expected of him.
Mrs. Ilomuanya, who is the Managing
Director, My Villa Interiors, Abuja: I am
very impressed with the interiors and
designs of the University. I love what they
did here. The use of ecological and
sustainable interior decors in the hotel, an
open-plan e-Library, and a serene environment can only add to the university’s
reputation as a Development University.
I am pleased my son’s Commencement
allowed me to come and see for myself all
that is going on here.
Mrs. Mercy Abia:
Day of Joy
Today, I am a very happy woman.
Seeing my first child, Basil Abia, graduate
from a good university is my joy.
Mrs. Mercy Abia
Charismatic ex-SGA President Mr. Basil Abia
receiving his diploma from President Ensign
A joyous day to remember with friends and family
Mrs. Rabi Musa Dattijo Muhammad
Brains & Beauty:
At the Awards
Night Ceremony
Mrs. Rabi Musa Dattijo Muhammad:
Second Time Happy
I am happy to be here for the second
time, because my first son, Muhammad
Dattijo, graduated from here in 2012 and
my last born, Farouk Musa Dattijo, today.
I am very happy as a mother and want
every mother to witness something like
this.
11
Outstanding Senior Design Projects
Featured at SITC Technology
Open House
Seventh SITC Technology Open House held on Saturday,
April 23, featured outstanding projects of final-year students.
V
ice President Byron Bullock
addressed the SITC exhibitors, noting
that AUN was proud of their using the
available resources to creatively build
systems that benefit society.
Dean Mathias Fonkam said that the
focus of this particular event was “to share
innovations in mobile technology that are
transforming our world” with the University
and the host community.
Dean Fonkam also noted that the innovations in mobile technology and their
integration with Internet and Cloud
Computing have been unprecedented and
create huge worldwide opportunities.
The SITC Technology Open House, he
went on, provides a learning opportunity
for the entire community, tapping into the
expertise of the SITC faculty members and
students.
The Dean reaffirmed President Ensign’s
commitment to recognize and reward
students who come up with software
systems that can make a huge difference in
the community.
Some outstanding student works were
on display. One of them is a management
information system to be deployed in the
TELA program, a USAID-sponsored
project aimed at improving the literacy of
22,000 youths in Adamawa State. Another
is Gallon, an on-demand fuel delivery
application that tackles the problems
associated with petroleum products not
reaching consumers.
Dr. Fonkam dropped hints of plans to
hold future Open Houses in other Nigerian
cities such as Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt,
and Kano.
WORLD BANK CONFERENCE:
Dr. Sapovadia Underscores Importance of Land as
Development Base
I
nterim SBE Dean, Dr. Vrajlal Sapovadia, attended the 17th Annual World Bank
Conference on “Land and Poverty,” held from March 14 to 18 at the World Bank
Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The conference theme was “Scaling up Responsible Land Governance.” Prof. Sapovadia described land as the “bedstead in which
seeds of development are sown.” He also spoke on March 18 at the Master’s Class,
which was held after the conference.
SBE Holds Executive Training
For Adamawa Chamber of
Commerce
T
he School of Business & Entrepreneurship conducted an executive training for
local business owners on April 27, under a
partnership agreement with the Adamawa
Chamber of Commerce.
The program is a part of the University’s
efforts to help the business community
return to life after the insurgency, while
providing SBE students with out-of-classroom case study experience. The free
workshops, like the free business clinics
started some time ago, are geared towards
improving the quality of businesses in
Adamawa State.
The workshop, which took place at the
Conference Hall of the Office of the
Deputy Governor, was attended by Deputy
Governor Martins Babale of Adamawa
State, who read the keynote address.
Interim Dean of SBE, Dr. Vrajlal
Sapovadia, said, “As a development
university, AUN is always looking at how
to help its community. So, we decided to
organize free training for the entrepreneurs
in Adamawa State.” Resource persons
included Prof. Linus Osuagwu, Dr.
Ferdinand Che, Dr. Tamara Myatt, Dr.
Chris Mbah and Samuel Akanno.
At the end of the workshop, participants
praised the quality of information they had
received. “We’ve gained a lot, because
whenever you come in contact with academia,
you share ideas, discuss problems, and at
the end of the day, everyone is better off,”
said Ahmed Jarma, Managing Director
of Adama Beverages and one of the
participants.
Dr. Hannah Mugambi’s Debut Novel
Addresses Feminism in an African Society
A
BoT vice chair, Prof Bill Bertrand, hooding
social entrepreneur & AUN faculty Prof.
Martin Burt who received a doctorate
from Tulane University, on May 14
12
t the April 13 launch of Wangari the Leopard Girl, an autobiographical
novel by Dr. Hannah Mugambi of SAS, the author provided an insight to
her works, which depict the “woman as a victor, not the victim.”
The novel addresses issues of feminism and female consciousness in Africa,
centering on adolescence, sexuality, education, marriage, divorce, and the struggle
between traditional and modern Africa. It explores marriage and motherhood
in the African cultural context.
An E+ Instructor, Ms Motunrayo Ogunrinbokun, reviewing the work,
described Mugambi’s novel as a work of art, “a story depicting African women
who are trapped in the society.”
The reviewer said this is only an affirmation of the tenacity
of an African woman to survive in the face of abuse.
The book reading was so well received that it generated a
heated debate in the audience: “What does freedom mean to
an African woman?”
Research Points to Possible Local Water Clean Up
in Oil Polluted Niger Delta
D
r. Feyisayo Victoria Adams of SAS
shared details of a research work
suggesting that there may be a homemade
solution to crude oil pollution in the
Nigeria delta region.
Dr Adams showed how pots made of
clay and fly ash can be used conveniently
and cheaply by the affected local population to purify crude oil contaminated water,
at a seminar on June 24. Coming on the
heels of the orchestrated kick-off of the
Ogoniland clean-up, Dr. Adams’s work is
both timely and topical. Although the work
is still at a “preliminary” stage, it has the
potential to rescue millions in Nigeria and
around the world who suffer the obvious
dangers of the exposure to toxic water
sources.
Dr. Adams, who said she always has a
passion for ensuring access to clean water
by local communities across the world,
mixed water and unrefined petroleum in
P
the laboratory and used the mixture of fly
ash and clay as filtration aids.
The filtered water from the experiment
showed normalized pH, Total Dissolved
Solid (TDS), conductivity which falls
within the Environmental Protection
Agency acceptable ranges, and increase in
turbidity removal from the water.
However, the water is yet to be tested for
heavy metals, bacteria, and hydrocarbons.
But Dr. Adams is optimistic. “This kind of
combination – using clay and fly-ash as filters for crude oil contaminated water– has
not been done before,” she said. “And
what we want to do is to make clay-fly ash
pots which can be used by people in local
communities to treat their water.”
The ratios of fly ash to clay that were
used are: 1:1, 1:2, 2:1 and 20g each of fly
ash and clay. The contaminated water was
allowed to have contacts with the filter aids
at contact times of between 10 minutes and
AUN Researchers Share
Breakthrough on Steel
Corrosion Retardant
rofessor Linus Okoro, Chair of the Petroleum Chemistry program, leading
Ms. Khadijah Khalid (student) and Mr. O’donnel Sylvester (research
assistant), announced on June 3 that in a research where concentrations of the
tamarind juice were tested, the plant extract (called Tsamia in Hausa) was able
to inhibit mild steel corrosion in formic and citric acid solutions.
Making the presentation of the findings to the University community Dr.
Okoro said that there had not been a previous study on Tamarindus indica as a
corrosion inhibitor, except for one with African black velvet tamarind. He said
that the research on the use of natural, plant-based organic inhibitors is now
being done in China and India.
He noted that corrosion is a major challenge in industry, especially oil and
gas, automobile, and power plants, and given that the market for corrosion
protection is huge, Dr Okoro said that the research has the potential of creating
an alternative to the current inorganic/synthetic inhibitors available. This is
especially true because natural product-based, organic inhibitors are non-toxic.
This makes them feasible for use in water treatment, paint and coating, and
other industries.
The next step, Dr. Okoro said, will be for his team to determine the optimum
conditions for producing the inhibitors and purification of the extract, after
which mass production can be initiated.
The abstract of the work has been accepted for presentation at the international Conference on Industrial Chemistry that will be held this June in New
Orleans, Louisiana, the United States.
30 minutes. The total dissolved solid
(TDS), pH, conductivity, and turbidity of
water before and after filtration were
determined and recorded. The increase in
fly ash ratio to clay showed decrease in pH,
TDS, conductivity and increase in turbidity
removal from the water.
The results from these tests further
showed that 1:2 (fly ash: clay) was the
most efficient, as it exhibited an average of
86.9 percent turbidity removal at 10
minutes and 97 percent at 20 minutes. It
also showed an optimum pH value of 8.21
compared to the pH of the contaminated
water, which was 11.5. The average
percentage TDS reduction for this ratio
was 11.5 percent. The result obtained
showed that 1:2 (fly ash: clay) ratio can be
selected and possibly further modified for
the purification of crude oil contaminated
water.
New Math Model
May Predict Terror
Attacks
A
professor in the Department of
Mathematics, Jamiu Olumoh, with
advisory inputs from colleague O. O.
Ajayi, has proposed a new statistical
model, which may be used to describe
datasets characterized with a very large
percentage of zero observations.
The model evolved as the two academicians attempted to describe the data from
Boko Haram attacks, focusing on the days
of attack and the casualties recorded. Since
Boko Haram militants do not attack and
inflict casualties every day – there are large
numbers of days (zeros) where nothing
happens – they were faced with finding an
efficient model for describing the data,
which would help to spot a pattern and
help to predict future attacks.
“Boko Haram is a problem everyone
wants to solve, and as mathematicians and
statisticians, we have come by a pattern of
attacks, and from there we can possibly
supply such information to the military,”
Professor Olumoh said at a seminar on
campus.
The paper has been accepted for
presentation at the upcoming 9th World
Congress on Probability and Statistics in
July in Toronto, Canada.
13
113 Graduate from Summer Certificate Program
A
graduation ceremony was held on June 30 for 113 participants of AUN’s
Summer Certificate Program. Additional certificate programs were introduced
this summer, to both expand the professional career and human capacity of individuals
within AUN as well as the local community.
Vice President of the Finance Division, Mr. Anthony Agbo, addressed the
participants, saying: “Your achievement is the new standard you have set for
yourself; you must continue to develop yourself.”
Mr. Renaldo Rheeder, Director of the Professional & Vocational Development &
Auxiliaries and Coordinator of the program, said Certificate Courses will now likely
be held every two months, since there is a continual stream of demand.
Apart from the quality academic content, the AUN Certificate Program is flexible,
with intensive lectures holding after working hours and on weekends. A dozen
courses were added this summer: Website Design, Web Application Development,
Business Analytics and IT, Public Speaking, Photography, Film/Documentary
Production, Leadership Management, International Marketing, Financial Management,
Financial Reporting, Audit and Assurance, and Project Management.
Certificate Participants Share Testimonials
Emeka B. Ufomadu, AUN Internal Audit
The summer program was awesome.
I only have positive words for the
organizers who did a splendid job. To
crown it all, the instructors were really
special. I want to thank Professor
Samuel Akanno, who made financial
management so easy to understand.
Lugard Ekhator, Custodian Supervisor
with Facilities Management
Although I enrolled for the Website Design
course, which was a very new thing to me,
my propelling desire was borne out of my
interest in the IT world. It was very challenging and interesting.
Our instructor was Prof Evgeny
Arkhipov of SITC. In fact, he is a genius.
The class was lively, and very interactive.
He responded to every question raised and
personally worked on students’ computers
to correct problems encountered. I am very
glad to have taken this summer certificate
course and will encourage others to do so.
Sadiq Yahaya, Head Coach,
AUN Football Team, enrolled in
Public Speaking
I feel this is indeed a great achievement
in my life. I have now overcome my
stage fright, ready to face whatever size
of audience with confidence and good
voice quality.
14
Ikani Helton, Staff, AUN Academy
My instructor, Dr. Ferdinand Che, was
awesome. I was coming from a different
background of study (sciences), but he
made Business Analytics and IT interesting
and worth the time and money. The class
was always interactive and intensive. I
learned a lot and can’t wait to explore my
new skills.
Mohammed Chubado Ahmed, student
majoring in Petroleum Chemistry
Before I enrolled into the course, if you had
asked me, I would have told you that what
I fear most is PUBLIC SPEAKING.
During this program we were introduced to
all elements of speech writing and speech
delivery. Today, I can proudly say that I am
a certified and qualified public speaker.
I would like to enjoin every individual
to participate in this program as you will
learn to speak with enthusiasm, passion,
confidence, power and authority.
Ms. Murna Mamman, student
majoring in Accountancy, enrolled in
Financial Management
I took Financial Management and, as a
chartered accountant in view, I was
motivated to use the opportunity AUN
gave to enroll. At first I was hesitant,
thinking it would be better to take it after
graduation. Professor Samuel Akanno,
95 Receive Certificates
After Free Computer
Literacy Program
P
resident Ensign has presented
certificates to 95 people, both
members of the University community
and those from without, who completed six weeks of free IT training.
AUN students of CDV 102 facilitated the training for this community
development intiative..
Beneficiaries of the IT training
included AUN drivers, gardeners,
cleaners, and security officers. Those
from outside AUN were nominated
by previous beneficiaries of the
AUN Poverty Stoplight program.
President Ensign praised their
desire to keep learning. District
Head of Duhu, Mustapha Sinusi,
said that he will apply the knowledge gained to gather information
for the center in Madagali that caters
to vulnerable youths. He was given a
Library on a Flash (LOAF) for the
Madagali center.
Mustapha Sinusi holds up the LOAF he
received from President Ensign
who was the instructor, advised me that
taking it now would be easier since the
knowledge would still be fresh in
relation to my other accounting courses.
I was also informed that completion of
the entire ACCA course as a chartered
accountant offered more security. I opted
for it. I am excited I took the course with
Akanno. He taught it passionately and
went through the review session with
diligence and patience.
Adamu Umar Yakubu, Senior Resident
Director
I enrolled in the program to enable me
think higher, raise my head, and develop
lasting friendships with two main instruments of public speaking: the podium
and the microphone. I believe that this
course has given me the skill to stand
wherever, with whoever and still feel
stable, composed, and confident.
Writing Center Hosts Grammar Workshop
for Academy Seniors
O
n May 27, The Writing Center held a teaching session for SS2 students from the
AUN Academy. The three-hour session coordinated by the Center’s Director Ms.
Emilienne Akpan was aimed at encouraging a reading culture and also to prepare them
for exams and essay writing required by every course in the University should they
choose to further their education at AUN.
The class was in two segments, the first dwelt on the parts of speech which are
essential to good sentences. Exercises were displayed on the screen and it was a very
interesting, interactive, and lively class.
AUN Charter School Students Mimic World Leaders
at Social Science Fair
S
tudents of the AUN Academy American Track (the Charter School), held a
Social Science Fair on May 10. They
dressed in costumes of famous world
leaders and presented their histories to the
guests.
The school’s administrator, Ms. Rose
Clarkson, said the Fair aims at ensuring
that the students are versed in the history
of cultures not only in Africa but throughout the world. “It is where our students
showcase and illustrate global history and
culture.”
The students also created artifacts relating
to the leaders they were presenting.
Denzel Che, Grade 8, who played
Emperor Augustus Caesar of Rome, said
that he admires this leader for his military
tactics and ability to make Rome become
more prosperous during his reign.
Hauwa Ibrahim, also Grade 8,
presented on Ci Xi of China and said that
she was impressed by how she changed her
mind to modernize the Qing Dynasty when
it began to decline.
Jamilu Barkindo, Grade 7, presented
on Mohandas Gandhi of India and said
that he likes the leader for his ability to
unite the Hindus and Muslims while they
fought for their independence.
John Yashim, Grade 6, who was
Shaka, king of the Zulu, said that he
admires this leader for his ability to
increase the size of Zulu Kingdom to
become an empire and how he trained
the warriors to endure and conquer.
Little Yashim narrated the story of how
the warrior-king was born and how he was
raised to rule the Zulu of South Africa.
Ahmed Babangida, Grade 7, admired
how Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent of
the Ottoman Empire became a governor
at a young age.
The family members of the students
all expressed their happy approval of the
content of these presentations, the
confidence shown by the young
students, and their mastery of history.
Charter School Students Visit State Parliament,
Fombina Palace Museum
S
tudents of the
Charter School
on June 8 visited the
Adamawa
State
House of Assembly
in Jimeta, and the
Fombina
Palace
Museum in Yola
town. The visits were
aimed at enhancing
the students’ out-ofclass experience.
At the House of Assembly, the students
witnessed a plenary session of a bill being
passed into law.
Salihu S. Jauro, Principal Legislative
Officer of the Adamawa State House of
Assembly, served as the students’ tour
guide. Mr. Jauro said that he was
impressed by the
conduct of the
students.
“The students
are really amazing,
they have shown
interest in knowing
more about this
arm of government…they were
taught well and
seeing lawmaking
in practice gives them more insight… I
am also overwhelmed by the questions
they asked after the plenary.”
At the museum, Malam Jingi
Hammasewo, a conservator, took the
students around the museum explaining
aspects of the Fombina genealogy and
Elementary,
Charter Schools
Mark Earth Day 2016
E
arth Day, which comes every April
22, was marked by the Office of
Sustainability Initiatives. Coordinator
of the program, Ms. Jennifer Che, held
interactive sessions with Grades 4 and 5
pupils of AUN Academy (Elementary)
and the Charter School.
The pupils were chauffeured from
their school to the main campus
compost pit which helps surrounding
plants to gain more nutrients for better
growth. The 2016 theme was ‘Trees for
the Earth’.
The next stop was the Akin KekereEkun Administration building, which is
built with recycled shipping containers,
and insulated with mud. The unique
building also has solar panels and a
water recycling outlet for irrigation of
flower beds.
The recycling center was next on the
itinerary: it is amazing to see what is
done in this center. Waste is recycled
here which also provides jobs for
women in the Yola community. Trashed
nylon bags are washed and used to
make purses, mats, decoration items,
and papier mâché used to make stools.
The pupils excitedly got their hands
dirty helping to wash nylons for Yola
EcoSentials and make Eco-bricks,
which involve filling empty bottles with
sand that can be used to build. The
pupils also planted seeds and shrubs.
Ms. Che lectured the students on the
importance of recycling waste for a
greener environment and to turn it into
wealth.
The pupils thanked the Sustainability
team for its efforts to keep the environment green and posed for a group
photograph.
the history of Adamawa State.
Sihiyona Dantata, a Grade 10 student, said
the field trip was very educative. “I am now
more knowledgeable seeing all these artefacts
that form part of the history of Adamawa
State.”
Jamilu Barkindo, a Grade 7 student
thanked his teachers for taking them on the
field trip. “They are transforming our intellect.
My understanding has increased on how
legislation is formulated in Adamawa State.”
By Benjamin Yakubu
15
AUN Founder:
Philanthropy
Alone Won’t
Suffice For Africa
I
n London on April 22, at the London
School of Economics’ Africa Summit,
AUN Founder, former Nigerian Vice
President His Excellency Atiku Abubakar,
warned African nations that private
efforts, including philanthropy, cannot
take the place of carefully targeted and
efficiently managed public investments
for the common good. “African states,
like states everywhere, have the
primary responsibility for security,
education, healthcare, and environmental protection, and the provision of
good governance.”
The session was focused on how
philanthropy can be used to identify,
motivate, train, and reward people in
such a way as to promote development
in Africa.
The former Vice President cited his
personal examples of having engaged
in virtually all these forms of philanthropy, fostering formal education by
providing university scholarships for
promising young people, creating and
supporting the AUN Academy as well
as American University of Nigeria,
which he described as his largest
commitment.
Suggesting that the link between
philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and
human capital development has a long
history in Africa, the Founder pointed
out that philanthropy and entrepreneurship have helped Africans build
schools, roads, churches, and mosques.
An individual’s success is deemed of
limited social value, he contended, if it
does not lead to the success of others
in the family, clan, or community.
“Through philanthropy many
Africans have secured scholarships,
employment, start-up capital for business,
and cost of medical treatment.”
Stating his reasons for founding
AUN, the former Vice President
quoted one of the Chibok 27 taking
refuge at AUN: “Education gives me
the wings to fly, the power to fight, and
the voice to speak.” He praised the
Summit’s focus on Africa’s human
resources as the key driver of the
continent’s advancement.
16
50,000 Households Benefit from USAID,
AUN-API Seed & Food Distribution
B
etween June 22 and 25, altogether 4,150 farmers in four local government areas of
Adamawa State received bags of seed crops and foodstuff, courtesy of the United
States Agency for International Aid (USAID), in partnership with AUN and the Adamawa
Peace Initiative. The largesse, from which 50,000 households will directly benefit, it is
hoped, will cushion the effects of and aid the local farmers’ quick recovery from the
destruction brought upon their homes and livelihood by Boko Haram.
Although communities run over by Boko Haram have been reclaimed and many runaway survivors have returned to their homes, the worst is yet to pass. The militants had
destroyed farmlands and invaluable infrastructure, and the returnees, most of whom eked
out a living as farmers, can no longer till the soil, because there is little to sow. Now,
they rely on government and foreign aid to eat daily.
The 4,150 bags of high-yield seeds, also described as “of a low-fertilizer variety,”
were donated by the United States Agency for International Development. Each bag
contained sorghum, cowpea, and maize. However, the AUN-API, which took charge of
the delivery and distribution of the seeds decided to supplement the bag of seeds with
25kg bags of maize and beans. This was done, according to top AUN-API officials, to
discourage the farmers, who are living through a starvation phase, from eating the seed
crops.
Coordinator for AUN-API’s Humanitarian Relief, Mr. Abdullahi Bello, who supervised the distributions, was satisfied with the turnout and discipline among the benefiting
farmers. Bello said AUN-API was trusted with handling the distribution because the
group enjoys the trust of the local population and has the vital distribution network to
ensure the supplies got to the real farmers.
The benefiting farmers were drawn from four local governments within Adamawa
State – Gombi, Fufore,
Michika, and Madagali.
Each farmer received one
bag of seed crops (which
contains 10 kg of sorghum
seeds, 10 kg of cowpea,
and 5 kg of maize) for
planting, one bag of beans
and one bag of maize for
consumption. They were
also given a token to
facilitate their return to
their various homes, from
AUN-API members Gambo Jika (l) and Bishop Stephen
the
distribution centers.
Ransome sharing out bags of seeds to IDPs farmers in Fufure
“We are expecting a
good harvest,” said Alhaji Gambo Jika, the AUN-API vice chair, who represented
President Ensign, at one of the distribution centers in Fufore.
Some beneficiaries shared their thoughts with us:
Aisha Malafa, from Guyaku District, Gombi Local Government
Boko Haram burnt down everything, our homes, our foodstuffs and our farms.
It has not been easy for us since we returned. So what these organisations are doing
will help us. We will be able to plant our seeds and grow something.
Pastor Mark Nuhu from Gombi Local Government
Now that Boko Haram has come and gone, I find life very difficult. My house was
burnt down and I am currently unable to rebuild it because I am financially broken.
By the grace of God, these seeds will help us to get back on track. I will have something to live on. This is a sign of hope. I pray that God will increase them as they
are increasing us.
Garba Abdullahi, from Fufore
I ran from Madagali to Fufore because of Boko Haram. I left everything. But
these seeds will help me to start my life again. I am calling on other beneficiaries
not to eat their seeds but plant them because at the end of the day, they will be the one to
benefit.
AUN in Historic Hosting of World Refugee Day
F
or the first time, the UN refugee
agency marked the June 20 World
Refugee Day at the American University
of Nigeria, Yola. It was the first out-ofAbuja observance in Nigeria of the day set
aside by the UN since 2001 to highlight the
plight of the displaced of the world.
The event, held in a northeast capital of
the country, is seen by many as a signpost
of the new security situation in the region,
and an acknowledgement of the lead role
played by the University in continuing to
care for over 250, 000 people still
displaced from their homes in the region.
During a town hall meeting at AUN on
April 22, US ambassador to the United
Nations, Dr. Samantha Power, had singled
out AUN for commendation:
“What you all have done is really a
model for how universities not only in
Nigeria but all around the world can wade
into some of the most complex and seemingly intractable challenges facing their
communities”.
“AUN will continue to support local
and international organizations to cater for
refugees and their host communities in
Adamawa State,” AUN President Margee
Ensign said in a welcome address read at
the occasion by the Vice President of
Finance, Mr. Anthony Agbo.
Dr. Ensign also emphasized AUN’s
collaborative partnership with local
religious and community leaders under the
Adamawa Peace Initiative which it helped
form in January 2012. “AUN-API has
been deeply involved in peace building,
using sports, skills training, and other such
personal development activities to engage
the youthful and the vulnerable from the
surroundings, thus preventing them from
joining Boko Haram.”
“As we have seen in north eastern Nigeria
and Adamawa state in particular, refugees
are not just those confined to government
designated camps, they are primarily living
with the general population putting pressure
on the already diminished resources of
their hosts.
“AUN has a mandate to light a candle
rather than curse the darkness. This mandate
was drawn from the vision of our Founder
who thought a university is not necessarily
an ivory tower, but must be involved in
solving problems in our community.
In partnership with the Adamawa Peace
Initiative and other well-meaning Nigerians,
we went on mobilizing food, men, and
material for the upkeep of the IDPs, feeding
more than 270,000 at one point in the
crisis. AUN-API helped to bring the plight
UNHCR delegates
joined the AUN
Community in a
solidarity walk to
honor IDPs
of the Adamawa displaced persons to
international attention”, the President said.
The UNHCR representative in Nigeria
and ECOWAS, Ms. Angele DikongueAtangana, acknowledged the generosity that
AUN, as well as individuals, families and
communities, have shown to IDPs.
This year’s World Refugee Day at AUN
also featured a solidarity walk for refugees,
display of waste-to-wealth souvenirs made
by IDPs and their hosts who underwent
skill training and financial literacy seminars
facilitated by AUN and international donor
agencies.
AUN’s Unique
Celebration of
Democracy Day
O
n Monday, May 30, in the festive
spirit of Nigeria’s Democracy Day
(May 29), AUN shared 50 pairs of homemade uniforms among the vulnerable
children enrolled in the “Feed and Read for
President Margee Ensign and Dr. Fatima
Boys” program. The uniforms were sewn
Abubakar
at AUN by in-house tailors. Special guest,
Adamawa’s Health Commissioner, Dr. Fati Atiku Abubakar, handed out the uniforms to
the beneficiaries. The gesture underscored AUN’s belief that quality education for all is
the key to sustaining democracy in Africa’s most populous nation. “What could be more
important than celebrating democracy, the ability of people not just to vote, but to control
their own lives and destinies and their desires?” President Ensign asked during the distribution of the trousers.
The President noted that the occasion should serve as a basis for reflection on the
need for Nigeria’s democracy to be sustained by educational development. Nigeria has
more children out of school than any other country in the world, and the “Feed and Read”
program is AUN’s small but significant contribution to changing the status quo.
“We are trying to work on extending the work that we are doing with these young men,
because I know we are looking into the faces of future leaders,” President Ensign said.
Recently, two US firms, Vicki Marsha Uniforms and FedEx, donated in kind to the
“Feed& Read Program for Girls.” The University then took delivery of the school
uniforms, worth $48,000 in wholesale value. The clothing had been freighted free of
charge by FedEx, the world’s leading international courier firm. FedEx’s in-kind
donation is valued at $11,000.
The new literacy program for girls was launched on February 11 with a modest
financial donation by the Irish government, with AUN bearing much of the cost. The
Feed & Read program targets at-risk, out-of-school girls and orphans aged six to 17.
Some of the beneficiaries were orphaned by the Boko Haram insurgency.
The literacy program provides basic literacy and numeracy skills to the girls and boys,
with a feeding component that provides one meal per day, cooked by local vendors.
Besides education, the program has a local economic impact as it is a source of livelihood
for community women serving as volunteers and or facilitators in the program, as well
as for the food vendors.
AUN literacy programs follow the same fundamental pedagogy and include a free
meal for participants. AUN also runs a USAID-sponsored literacy and numeracy
program, the hugely acclaimed and successful Technology Enhanced Learning for All
(TELA) which uses radio and tablet computers to reach over 22,000 out-of-school kids.
17
First-Impression Diplomacy:
How Ambassador Samantha Power’s AUN Visit
Altered the Narrative of the Northeast Conflict
O
By Solomon Elusoji
n Friday, April 22, the US Permanent
Representative to the UN, Ambassador
Samantha Power, was at AUN. One of
President Obama’s top foreign policy advisers, Dr. Power was on a fact-finding
mission at the behest of the US President.
The previous day, the Ambassador had
been with President Muhammadu Buhari,
discussing Boko Haram. Before the Aso
Rock visit, she had also been to Chad and
Cameroon, two other countries who have
felt the direct impact of the Boko Haram
activities, visiting Internal Displaced
Persons’ camps.
The Ambassador held a town hall meeting
with staff and students, met with enrollees
in the University’s Feed and Read program,
and played basketball and volleyball with
youths taking part in Peace Through Sports.
Indications point to Dr. Power’s visit as an
implicit official stamp of approval of the
White House on the numerous development
and educational programs embarked upon
by AUN, separately and with API, which
are helping to improve lives in Nigeria’s
northeast. One of them, the USAIDsponsored Technology Enhanced Learning
for All (TELA), uses the radio and tablets
to teach numeracy and literacy skills to
22,000 vulnerable kids in Adamawa State.
The Peace Through Sports Program, as
the name implies, provides youngsters from
vulnerable and marginalized communities
the opportunity to develop constructive
partnerships with youths of other backgrounds. The team games have impacted
the lives of 1,500 young people and prevented from acquiring extremist ideology.
The university has also initiated “Feed
and Read”, which aims to provide a meal
per day for displaced and out-of-school
children, while teaching them basic literacy
and numeracy. Another AUN development
and educational program is “Waste-to Wealth,”
engaging and empowering local women to
recycle trash into socially responsible, and
commercially viable by-products.
Dr. Power noted, “What you all have
done here is really a model for how universities, not only in Nigeria but all around the
world, can wade into some of the most
complex and seemingly intractable
challenges facing their communities,” she
said. “It’s also a model for how you shape
a rising generation of leaders.”
AUN has been at the forefront of the
18
war against the Boko Haram uprising, not
wielding guns, armored tanks, and sophisticated bombs, but wielding compassion
and kindness, courage and ideas, and a
simple resolution to never cower to fear.
Ambassador Power joined youths in Peace
Through Sports activities
“Like so many Nigerians, your university has stepped up in heroic ways,” said
Power. “Working together with local
religious leaders, the university has
provided food and other basic supplies for
thousands of people. At one point, an AUN
security guard, Kamain Tumba, was hosting
some 50 members of his extended family.
That is extraordinary.
“One group of volunteers helped set up
a virtual network, to help displaced people
find their loved ones who had fled to other
parts of the country. Some of these volunteers were in Malkohi on September 11,
2015, when a Boko Haram bombing there
killed seven people and wounded many
more, including several students of this
very university. It speaks to the courage and
the compassion of AUN students.”
The US Ambassador is right about
AUN’s obsession with community service.
Just before the insurgency peaked, in January
2012, AUN President, Dr. Margee Ensign,
and the then Chairman of the AUN Board,
Ahmed Joda, had reached out to prominent
Muslim and Christian leaders, traditional
rulers, and business and community leaders.
The extended hand of fellowship would
lead to the Adamawa Peace Initiative (or
AUN-API), a coalition which would prove
instrumental in greatly limiting the disruptive impact of the insurgency in Adamawa
State. And, since the university had had
major experience in community outreach
(even before Boko Haram’s emergence,
AUN was already involved in community
service, fixing schools and working in a
community library), it was able to move
swiftly.
Later in 2012, a tidal wave of internally
displaced persons (IDPs) would begin to
arrive in Yola. By 2014, the university was
feeding more than 276,000 of them, with
funds raised through its solo efforts.
“Our model for peace-keeping is
simple,” President Ensign has said. “Local
people know and can identify vulnerable
youth with more accuracy than can any outside agency, so religious and community
leaders and traditional rulers identify youth
and women who need assistance, who have
no income or education, or who might be
susceptible to radicalization. The University
then develops programs to train and
educate these most vulnerable citizens.”For
Dr. Power, the university’s community
model, in dispelling the fears and distrust
created by the insurgency, is brilliant. The
AUN-API coalition, she noted, by bringing
together Christian and Muslim leaders,
provides “a living model of inter-faith
cooperation. And they defuse tensions
when they flare up. It is what your university
is doing, by welcoming young women from
Chibok, who escaped Boko Haram, mentoring them in their studies and showing
that they should be embraced.“Every
student volunteer you have, who goes out
and helps rebuild the communal bonds that
Boko Haram has sought to sever, whether
it’s by taking in displaced families or
coming up with a lesson plan for kids, these
volunteers, they are changing the world.
They are a critical piece of the fight against
Boko Haram. They are doing everything
that is Boko Haram’s opposite. And terrorism
will be defeated by active kindness, active
reconciliation, [and] active trust.”In the
end, Ambassador Power restated the US
commitment in helping Nigeria totally
annihilate Boko Haram. “We will be with
you to the very end, and the sky is the limit
to the partnership between the American
and the Nigerian people. And we will do
everything in our power as a government,
to support your efforts to put this horrible
chapter behind you.” So what basically
changed? Her first impressions have
created a better political rapport between
the US government and the countries on the
front lines of the anti-insurgency, resulting
in closer military and intelligence sharing
cooperation.
The ultimate result is that the fight
against Boko Haram is better coordinated
and more effective. We are reaping the
fruits of that cooperation in terms of peace
dividends.
With the return of peace, AUN-API can
concentrate on post insurgency rehabilitation, mediation, reconciliation, education,
empowerment and food security
Peace Run Raises N.6m for Feed & Read Program
T
he AUN Run for Peace of May 8
raised altogether N631,447 in participants’ subscriptions. The CFO, Vice
President Anthony Agbo, who gave a
breakdown of the figure at a certificate
presentation ceremony on May 16, said
that the sum was made up of N286,000
plus $100 raised locally, and $1,658
through the website.
The run also served to raise awareness
for “Feed and Read”. The race was
coordinated by Ms. Katherine AronsonEnsign. Katherine said that the race offered
an opportunity for the participants to learn
the importance of giving back to the local
community. “Your determination shows
your dedication to your wellbeing, and the
wellbeing of the entire AUN and the Yola
community… It is truly inspiring to see
adults of all ages, running, jogging, and
walking the course to promote peace here
in Yola.”
President Ensign thanked Katherine for
successfully organizing both the Run for
Peace event and the certificate presentation.
More than 230 of the over 350 participants
were security officers. Daniel Godwin and
Ms. Alice Raymond won in the male and
female categories. Both winners received
medals and certificates.
The AUN Run for Peace was held to
raise funds for the “Feed and Read”
program that provides displaced and
orphaned girls and boys a daily meal and
teaches them basic literacy and numeracy.
The peace-promoting event was held in
two segments: one-kilometer run or walk
for children, which had 182 participants,
and five-kilometer run or walk for over
250 adults.
The top four in the five-kilometer
categories included two of the AUN
Academy students Abdullahi Sani (SS2) and
Mustapha Durkuwa (SS3).
President Ensign, 4th from left, and AUN staff and friends gather for the Peace Run.
The Rheeders Inspire Staff-Faculty Football League
C
harming couple, Renaldo and Karin
Rheeder, from South Africa, recently
decided to form two teams from their
respective departments and have them
compete with each other on the football
pitch.
The essence, said Renaldo, Director of
the Professional & Vocational Development & Auxiliaries, and his wife, who is
Assistant Director of Projects, Facilities
Management, is to create avenues for staff
and faculty members to interact more outside the workplace environment and build
friendships across departments.
This initiative aimed at enhancing
social life on campus has given birth to the
Staff Faculty Football League (SFFL) to
be formally launched in the coming
semester. The league kicks off on Tuesday,
August 30.
At a draw for the league fixtures, held
on June 8, the charming couple was
singled out for recognition as the prime
midwives of the SFFL. Mrs. Rheeder
noted that soccer is a national sport in
South Africa and said they thought there
should be a platform where AUN staff and
faculty members come together to socialize
and have fun. Though staff members have
always played football matches together
every Saturday since 2012, this has not
metamorphosed into a league.
Karin and Renaldo Rheeder
“We’ve had some departmental games
before but this particular exercise was
kicked off by Renaldo and Karin Rheeder,”
noted Assistant Vice President Julius Ayuk
Tabe, who oversees Mr. Rheeder’s Professional & Vocational Development &
Auxiliaries.
Renaldo (not to be mistaken for
Ronaldo – the Real Madrid star is
Portuguese) narrated how the initiative is
metamorphosing into a league. He said the
idea started out of the need for people to
socially interact more. So both husband
and wife independently sponsored their
respective departments for the friendly
football match that even had a “Golden
Cup,” which added to the fun. “We were
talking about getting our staff members to
interact on a more social level.”
This friendly match between departments has since begun to build more ties
among staff members of the University—
just what President Ensign envisages.
“And her expectation is that it will generate
a lot of fun, interaction, collaboration, and
networking…she expects that all staff and
faculty members will bring to the league a
positive competitive attitude,” said AVP
Ayuk Tabe who relayed the President’s
goodwill message.
“Yes, we all want to win the matches,
but the aim is that we get to know one
another beyond the office; the overall winner
is AUN,” continued the presidential message.
The eight participating teams and their
respective official jersey-colors are President’s Office, white; Faculty & Cafeteria,
yellow; Student Affairs, red; OTDS, green;
Finance & HR, blue; AUN Academy,
lemon; Security & Safety Operations,
black, and Facilities Management &
Construction, navy blue.
19
AUN Increases New Student Scholarships – AUN Now Offers Law
Holds Scholarship Exams Nationwide on July 30
T
he American University of Nigeria
will hold scholarship examinations for
newly accepted students joining the university
for the 2016/2017 academic session on
Saturday, July 30, 2016. AUN has increased
new student scholarship awards to 67.
Thirty-six scholarships will be awarded
to candidates with the highest scores on the
last Joint Admissions and Matriculation
(JAMB) examination from all the 36
states, and one scholarship will be awarded
to the candidate with the highest scores on
JAMB UME nationally. Another 30 scholarships will be awarded to 5 candidates
from each of the 6 geo-political regions of
the country under the university’s regional
scholarships program. Winners of the
JAMB based scholarships will be selected
based on results of the 2016 UME, while
the regional winners will be selected
primarily based on their performance on
the 2016 national scholarship examinations.
ALL UME candidates newly accepted
into the university for the Fall 2016 Semester
are eligible and invited to sit for the
regional scholarships examinations.
Candidates transferring from local and
foreign universities as well as Direct Entry
candidates are ineligible.
All eligible candidates must bring with
them their Acceptance Letter into AUN
and either an International passport,
National ID Card, or Voters Registration
Card containing their photograph.
Candidates freshly seeking admission
and those who have applied, but are yet to
be notified of their admission into AUN,
and their guardians can phone the test centers
to receive permission to take the special
scholarship examinations. Those freshly
seeking admission into AUN will need to
complete an AUN admission application
form at the venue of the examination
before being allowed into the testing hall.
There is NO fee attached to this
scholarship examination.
The centers where the examinations will
be held are as follows:
Intels Integrated Logistics Services
Km 16 Aba Expressway, Port Harcourt
(contact: 08075493243)
Federal Government College
Isi-Uzo Street, Independence Layout, Enugu
(contact: 08056200091)
Mauve 21 Event Centre
MKO Abiola Way, Iyana Adeoyo, Ring Road, Ibadan
(contact: 08077400585)
Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre
1 Memorial Drive, Abuja
(contact: 08052266302)
Arewa House
1 Rabah Road, Kaduna
(contact: 08052266398)
Robert Pastor E-Library, AUN
Lamido Zubairu Way, Yola
(contact: 08055026923)
A
School of Graduate Studies Announces Fall 2016 Admissions
UN’s Graduate School is currently accepting applications into its Masters and
PhD programs: Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in
Computer Science, Master of Science (MSc), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in
Information Systems, Master of Technology (MTech) in Information Technology,
Master of Technology (MTech) in Telecommunication - all offered by the School of
Information Technology & Computing.
The School of Business & Entrepreneurship offers the following: Postgraduate
Diploma in Management (PGDM), Master of Business Administration (MBA),
Master of Science (MSc), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration.
Full-time programs at AUN Graduate School normally last 18 or 24 months.
For more information contact: [email protected]
Or please call Ms. Rita Agbo: 07054492275 or 08057185002
Visit: www.americanuniversitynigeria.org/academics/graduate
FOR ADMISSIONS INTO
AUN ACADEMY (SECONDARY), ELEMENTARY, OR EARLY LEARNING CENTER,
PLEASE CALL MR. AUSTIN SAMUEL: 08059800367 or 07067789426
A
UN has received a full approval by
the National Universities Commission and the Council for Legal Education
to start her innovative, Nigeria-compatible
LL.B program. Admission into the fiveyear LL.B program for the 2016/2017
academic session is already in progress.
Nigeria’s certifying authority for law
programs, the Council for Legal Education,
had at a full Council meeting on Tuesday,
June 28, ratified the decision of its Board
of Studies to approve the School of Law at
AUN.
President Ensign, expressing the sentiments of the AUN community, said: “The
American University of Nigeria is pleased
and proud that the Council for Legal
Education has approved the launch of our
new School of Law. AUN, Africa’s first
“Development University,” will bring an
innovative and important dimension to
legal education in Nigeria.”
Modelled on the American liberal arts
tradition of a broad education and critical
thinking, the AUN law courses reinforce
the development philosophy of AUN and
will be enriched by the University’s extensive
international faculty. The law curriculum
embraces humanitarian studies, gender,
alternative dispute resolution, environmental
law, HIV and the Law, Gender and
Development, Energy and Natural Resources
Law, and Technology and the Law, among
its novel courses that distinguish AUN’s
unique approach to legal education.
Dean of the School of Law, Professor
Oladejo Justus Olowu, believes that
positive change will be triggered in the
nation’s legal education system.
AUN is going to produce a new
generation of lawyers that will do the right
thing, he said.
Prominent solicitor, advocate and
Member of Nigeria’s Body of Benchers,
Tajudeen O. Oladoja, Esq, wrote this:
“Finally we have the much needed
improved legal education here in
Nigeria at AUN. I can now feel free
to entrust the future of Taslim – my
proud son – into your hands. He is
just everything to me, and I pray he
realizes his dream of becoming a
well-trained attorney in my life
time, so that he can take over my
law firm and sustain same.”
‘InsideAUN’ is a quarterly publication of the Office of Communications & Public Relations, American University of Nigeria, Yola
Editorial: Innocent Nwobodo, Omorogbe Omorogiuwa, Nelly Ating & Solomon Elusoji Multimedia: Noel Sashi, Abubakar Jibrilla & Innocent Theophilus
Editor: Daniel Okereke 0805 821 8790 Contact: [email protected]; Twitter: @news_aun
Editorial Consultant: Prof. Cortland Smith [email protected] Design: Shade Tree Graphics [email protected]

- American University of Nigeria

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