UI VC receives a team of experts from AfDB
The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Oyebode Adebowale, mni, FAS, has received a team of experts from the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The team was in the University of Ibadan for a pre-appraisal study in preparation for phase 2 support of AfDB to the Pan African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute (including Health and Agriculture) (PAULESI).
The Vice-Chancellor expressed the delight of the University Management in receiving the team from the AfDB and commended the initiative of the African Union in mustering African resources to channel the development of Africa.
Professor Adebowale recalled how the initial challenge of accommodation for PAULESI was resolved through the intervention of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) that built the permanent site now occupied by PAULESI.
He assured the team that the University Management will do all within its power to convince the Federal Government to release its counterpart funding as soon as possible.
The team leader, Dr. Takei Keiko thanked the University Management for its support during phase 1 that ended in 2022 spanning 5 years.
She informed the VC that PAULESI is a central focus of the Pan African University with phase 1, having produced over 3000 masters and 600 Ph.D degrees.
She added that plans are afoot to increase the capacity and to extend the coverage to cover more African countries especially in the North African region with the aim of making PAU phase 2 a centre of excellence and a world class University that will attract the entire Africa.
Dr. Takei informed the Vice-Chancellor that AfDB was counting on UI to take the lead through PAULESI in achieving this feat.
She informed the Vice-Chancellor that the African Union (AU) and the AfDB are aiming to commence Phase 2 of PAULESI as from September 2024 with a total commitment of 126 million US Dollars.
The team was accompanied by the Deputy Director, PAULESI, Professor Michael Oladunjoye, and other staff members.
