The Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana H.E. Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas paid a working visit to the University for Development Studies on Monday, June, 20 2022.

The visit was to among others, afford the High Commissioner, the opportunity to interact with Nigerian Students at UDS. The High Commissioner was accompanied by Mr. Joseph Onah, Consular, Mrs. Omobolanle Babafemi, Social Secretary, Comrade Hyacinth Ikechukwu Udenwoke, Chairman of All Nigerian Community (ANC) in the Northern Region, and Mr Emmanuel O. Okoye, Assistant Secretary of ANC.

Welcoming the Nigerian High Commissioner to the University, the Vice-Chancellor of UDS, Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye, intimated that currently, there are Sixteen (16) Nigerian students, in UDS comprising five (5) PhD candidates, Five (5) Medical students and six (6) Bachelor of Science students in various programmes. He added that all the PhD candidates and some of the medical students are under the West African Centre for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture (WACWISA) Scholarship.

Professor Teye, informed the High Commissioner, that in the past, there was an arrangement that made some space for lecturers from Nigeria to teach at UDS, adding that there was the need to revive that engagement to get more lecturers, especially, in the sciences. The Vice-Chancellor said that foreign students are provided with adequate and reliable health care delivery, accommodation and security, while in the country for studies. He added that, the university has a clinic which provides the health needs of the university community.

The Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana H.E. Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, said that about eight Thousand (8000) Nigerian Students have been evacuated from Ukraine, because of the Russia and Ukraine war. “All these students need to continue their education in African countries like Ghana and UDS could be one of the best schools of choice because of their excellent works that has gone beyond the boundaries of west Africa”, he remarked.

He therefore called on the Vice-Chancellor of UDS to consider reducing the cost of tuition for Nigerian students to get more of them into the University. He added that he would be grateful if UDS could inform his office about vacancies that are available for Nigerian Lecturers anytime there is the need in the future for him to facilitate lecturers’ coming into the University for knowledge sharing. He finally expressed his gratitude to the University Management and staff for taking good care of the Nigerian students and the warm welcome accorded him and his contingent.

Also present at the meeting were Prof. Felix Kofi Abagale, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Nurudeen Issah Abubakar, Registrar, Dr. Rahaina Tahiru, Snr. Assistant Registrar, Mr. Rashid Yakubu, Assistant Registrar at the office of Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Abdul-Hayi Moomen, Head of University Relations, Mad. Lorencia Wonnie, Assistant Registrar at the office of Dean of Students and some staff of University Relations.  
    
Story by: Isaac E. Dramani
(University Relations)