The African University of Science and Technology (AUST) said it is seeking the collaboration of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) to promote science and technology in Nigeria.
This call was made by the AUST president, Prof. Peter Onwualu, when he led a team of the institution’s top management on a courtesy visit to the NBRRI director-general, Prof. Samson Duna, in his office in Abuja.
Onwualu thanked Duna for maintaining the already established relationship between both institutions, even as he posited that NBRRI remained the best option to seek partnership with, in terms of building viable and knowledgeable manpower in the built and road sectors.
Giving a run-down of the varsity’s origin, he said AUST was founded in 2007 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo with the vision of producing viable engineering post-graduate students in Africa who can stand the test of time and be a great force in the engineering environment.
“Having achieved a recommendable feat in producing renowned post-graduate students from masters and doctorate classes, AUST has succeeded – after much struggle – in seeking permission from the National University Commission (NUC) to start the undergraduate programmes with some courses on engineering and mainly civil engineering.
“It is in this light that the management of AUST is seeking for collaboration between the university and NBRRI, which will cement the existing relationship and officially map out plans on signing an MoU in that regard, as this will help the university and NBRRI to dwell more on infrastructural programmes that will move research from theory to practical products that can be used in the African construction industry and foster innovation,” he stated.
He concluded that with a stronger interest offer in areas of the use of NBRRI’s laboratories for the training of undergraduate students of the university and an open check of offering discounts to NBRRI staff who wish to go for post-graduate studies in AUST and other short-term courses; and a collaboration between the institute and the university will be beneficial to both parties.
In his response, the NBRRI boss appreciated Onwualu for the timely visit as he expressed his excitement at the collaboration.
He congratulated the AUST president for his continuous contributions and support to the construction industry and he welcomed the idea of the MoU.
Following conclusions reached during the visit, Duna set up a committee from both institutions to look into the MoU and present a report within two weeks.
