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Tag: American University of Nigeria (AUN)

  • AUN, Marlboro college partner on student exchange

    The American University of Nigeria ( AUN ) has partnered with Marlboro College, United States, to facilitate student exchange between the two institutions.

    The partnership, Executive Director, Communications and Public Relations, Daniel Okeke, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, would also help to enhance educational experience and cross-cultural understanding of students and faculty at both institutions.

    The statement said AUN President, Dawn Dekle and the College’s counterpart Dr. Kevin Quigley signed the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of both institutions during a visit to AUN in Yola, Adamawa state.

    According to the statement, the partnership is also expected to cultivate engaged learning between students and faculty from AUN and Marlboro College through student exchanges.

    It noted that the partnership would provide for other joint academic endeavors, such as summer programs or faculty exchanges of mutual benefit.

    President Dekle, was quoted to have said: “American University of Nigeria is partnering with the Marlboro College learning community because of Marlboro’s unique liberal arts approach and intentional’ structure of the school. The mission and values of Marlboro mirror our AUN philosophy of education, which is ‘complete education’ and meant to develop academics and skills through coursework and practical training.

    “The World Studies Program, Clear Writing Requirement, and Town Meetings at Marlboro allow students to forge deep friendships with other students who have different backgrounds than their own, and allow them to understand how a learning community operates and their own place and responsibility in that educational environment.

    “I hope our AUN students embrace the opportunities offered through our partnership with Marlboro College, ready to engage in courageous conversations and form lifelong bonds with everyone.”

    President Quigley said: “Marlboro is committed to offering students international experiences that expand their horizons and launch them into a life of meaningful work,” said President Quigley, who serves on the Board of Trustees at AUN. “We already have partnerships in China, Mexico, Germany, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, as well as with domestic programs, and we are thrilled that our first collaboration in Africa is at AUN.”

    The statement said Mr. Quigley, a former President and CEO of the National Peace Corps Association, had worked with AUN Founder and Nigeria’s former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a former National Security Adviser to President Jimmy Carter, the late Robert Pastor.

    He launched the Harris Wofford Global Citizen Award which recognizes individuals whose lives were influenced by their interactions with volunteers, leading to a life of service to community and country.

    In 2011 at the 50th anniversary of the US Peace Corps, Atiku Abubakar was honored with the Global Award for his contributions to higher education, community development, and democracy in Africa.

    “AUN is an ideal partner for Marlboro, with a focus on arts and sciences, but also technology and entrepreneurship, in the interest of future sustainable development,” said Maggie Patari, director of global learning and international services at Marlboro.

    “We are fortunate to have this new partner providing the skills and leadership to help students address the social and economic challenges in the region, and the world,” Mr. Quigley, said.

  • UNHCR, AUN empowers returnees, others in Yobe

    UNHCR, AUN empowers returnees, others in Yobe

    The United Nation High Commission for Refugees ( UNHCR ) in partnership with American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola has presented empowerment packages to 426 refugee returnees, IDPs and members of host communities in Yobe State.

    Presenting a welcome address at the occasion which was held at the Yobe State Cultural Centre, Damaturu,  the Head of Office, Damaturu, Mr. Gabriel Idoko  on behalf of the Head, UNHCR Sub-Office Maiduguri Mr. Cesar Tshilombo explained that the presentation of the empowerment packages is a process that started, “during the registration and profiling of these our persons of concern with SEMA, provision of shelter kits, core relief items, cash assistance and general protection that was later followed up with the determination of livelihoods need-assessment has now transformed into this empowerment activity that we are witnessing today”.

    He noted that UNHCR has developed a deliberate policy of empowering people to be sustainable and self-reliant without much dependence on humanitarian support.

    “Based on our fundamental believe in UNHCR, instead of always giving fish as humanitarian organization to the displaced persons to eat at a time and still be in lack, we often invest in the training and provision of resources to the displaced person, on how to always catch their fish by themselves. By so doing they will be able to catch fish forever with their families. At the end, their lives will be sustainable and self-reliant without much dependence on humanitarian support”, he said.

    Idoko added that UNHCR is doing their activities within their core mandate as a protection organization which protects; assists; empowers; includes; and solves the related challenges of all the displaced people all over the world.

    According to him, the organization in partnership with AUN has implemented a similar project in all the six northeastern states nurturing a total of about 350 cooperative groups with about 244 of such groups from Borno and Yobe states, stressing that, the sum of N60 million has been committed to the project as grants with each group beneficiary getting an average of N250000 to improve their businesses.

    He explained that each group is comprised of at least 10-12 people with others getting more money depending on the nature of their craft and business. He added that about 11,652 persons have been trained in other skills like computer, capacity building and development to farmers, access to finance, apprentice and wage earning opportunities in the region with Yobe alone having the share of 1,853 beneficiaries.

    He commended that Emir of Damaturu and the Emirate for their unflinching support with particular mention of the donation of a venue at the palace for the for vocational training, adding that, talks are on with the BEST Centre in Potiskum for the infrastructural and material support in the training of vulnerable PoCs. More than 1000 PoCs have also gained financial literacy and Business Development training through UNHCR/AUN partnership.

    The Representative of AUN, called on the beneficiaries to take advantage of the empowerment kits and change their lives forever rather than selling them to some shred businessmen who would like to exploit them.

    Other partners who also spoke at the occasion include the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Musa Idi Jidawa, the Commissioner of Women Affairs, Yobe State Hajara Lawan, representative of the Commissioner for Youth and Sports.

    They all commended UNHCR and AUN for the strategic intervention in the lives of the displaced people in the state.

    Highlights of the occasion were the presentation of the kits to the beneficiaries, while the state cultural troupe was on hand to entertain guests.

  • Remaining Chibok girls to be released soon – FG

    Remaining Chibok girls to be released soon – FG

    The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Alhassan, said on Thursday the remaining Chibok girls that are still in Boko Haram captivity would be released soon.

    Alhassan stated this at the farewell dinner organised by the ministry in honour of the 106 released school girls after about  eight months rehabilitation period in Abuja.

    She said the Federal Government was still negotiating the release of the remaining Chibok girls and other citizens in Boko Haram captivity.

    “The Federal Government has never relented in the negotiation and I want to assure you that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

    “I appeal to their captors to come to the table and negotiate the release of those in captivity,’’ the minister said.

    Alhassan said the that girls were fit and ready for school again, adding that the federal government was fulfilling its promise to the girls by ensuring they were enrolled back in schools with their bills paid and necessary items for school provided.

    She said when the girls were released President Muhammadu Buhari told the world that the girls had seen the worst and promised that they would be given the best.

    “The government is fulfilling that promise as we all know. The girls have been at the rehabilitation centre for a long time and as a new school year begins, they will be in one of the best schools – the American University of Nigeria (AUN) where they will start a special foundation programmes like a pre-degree.”

    “Since their release, we have been giving them therapy to make them understand that challenges are a part of life and whatever happens to one in life is God’s will,” she added.

    The Country Representative of United Nations Women, Ms Comfort Lamprey, commended the efforts of government in ensuring the general well-being of the girls.

    She advised the girls to be responsible ambassadors of the North East, adding that the remaining Chibok girls would be released soon.

    The Deputy Representative of UNICEF, Mrs Peinille Ironside, said the girls’ return to their community was a new chapter in their lives.

    NAN

  • Chibok Girls mark 3rd anniversary at AUN

    Chibok Girls mark 3rd anniversary at AUN

    The first group of 24 of the escaped Chibok Girls who are undergoing studies at the American University of Nigeria (AUN) under the Education Initiative have celebrated their 3rd anniversary.

    The occasion recognized outstanding achievements among the first group of 24 who arrived at AUN in 2014 and have been on automatic scholarship.

    A statement issued by the Executive Director, Communications and Public Relations, Mr. Daniel Okereke, said AUN President Dr. Dawn Dekle and Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, Maryam Uwais, were among the special guests of honor.

    Mr. Okereke said the initiative, also called New Foundation School (NFS) started in 2014 to cater specially for the kidnapped Chibok girls who braved an escape from the captivity of Boko Haram.

    He said eight of the initial intake have graduated from the NFS and are enrolled in AUN to pursue their university education.

    “Among them are three in the University’s pre-med program, Natural and Environmental Sciences, and two in Accounting. The rest are studying Law, Computer Science and Journalism.

    “There were awards for the most punctual, best behaved, the most outgoing, and the best public speaking student.

    “For athletics, there were awards for students in specific skills, as well as the overall best athletic participant.  In the academics category, there was an award for the best student in every subject in both the intermediate and the advanced classes,” he said.

    AUN’s President, Dekle was quoted in the statement as saying: “I took special care looking at everything you have done, and I couldn’t be more proud.

    “You really do live out our virtues of excellence, integrity, and service.”

    Dr. Dekle promised to continue to work with the girls and to make the word “Chibok” become synonymous with positive virtues, with courage, integrity and knowledge.

    “This year, I want you to work with me and everyone in this room to make Chibok the latest word in the Oxford English Dictionary.  Do you remember when I said we are going to make it something else besides a village?  C-Character, H-Honesty, I-Intelligence, B-Bravery, O-Openness, and K-Kindness,” she said.

    Ms. Uwais, noted that her invitation was an opportunity to really get to know how AUN is transforming the girls.

    “I am delighted to be here.  Moreover, I am very inspired by what I have seen….This is just an awesome experience for me….This is really a worthwhile endeavor and I am very hopeful that this is just the beginning for all of you….You have come this far and you are going to go much farther because you all have some steel in you,” she said.

    Ms. Uwais said through the empowerment that they receive at AUN the students would go on to do great things in life.

    She charged the young women to remain focused in their studies.

    “Even though what happened to you should not have happened to anybody, I am a firm believer in ‘everything-happens-for-a-purpose.

    “What has happened is that a vast opportunity has been created for you all here.  I expect that you will take advantage of it and be true to yourself and your faith.  And just reach out for the stars,” she added.

    Also, Assistant Vice President, Community Engagement, Reginald Braggs, who coordinates NFS, said: “This is always the special evening for us. We highlight our students and all of the things that they have done in the last year academically, socially, and athletically.”

    Mr. Braggs noted that AUN, being a development university, felt obligated to do something about the tragedy that had befallen the kidnapped girls.

    “We offered these students the opportunity to turn tragedy into triumph,” Braggs added.

    According to the statement, NFS grouped the students on different scholastic levels–basic, intermediate, and advanced– starting with English Language, Mathematics, General Knowledge, and Spelling.

    “Five more courses were then added and it became an eight-subject program.  They needed to get into a pipeline towards their dream.

    “We really want them to have an overall general type of education, not only focused on academics but also on activities such as basketball, bike riding, art class, game night, movie night, karaoke night, spelling bee contest, and music class,” Mr. Braggs added.

    The Administrator, NFS, Jimoh Abubakar, said the program is transforming the young girls.

    “The NFS is a highly organized group of intellectuals, saddled with the responsibility of teaching, nurturing, loving, mentoring, and perfecting the young ladies into a set of confident, academically sound, behaviorally upright, athletically fit, and active women capable of developing themselves and the society at large,” Abubakar added.

  • Chibok girls mark 3rd anniversary at AUN

    Chibok girls mark 3rd anniversary at AUN

    The first group of 24 of the escaped Chibok Girls who are undergoing studies at the American University of Nigeria ( AUN ) under the Education Initiative have celebrated their third anniversary.
     
    The occasion recognized outstanding achievements among the first group of 24 who arrived at AUN in 2014 and have been on automatic scholarship.
    A statement issued by the Executive Director, Communications and Public Relations, Mr. Daniel Okereke, said AUN President Dr. Dawn Dekle and Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, Maryam Uwais, were among the special guests of honor.
     
    Mr. Okereke said the initiative, also called New Foundation School (NFS) started in 2014 to cater specially for the kidnapped Chibok girls who braved an escape from the captivity of Boko Haram.  
     
    He said eight of the initial intake have graduated from the NFS and are enrolled in AUN to pursue their university education.
     
    “Among them are three in the University’s pre-med program, Natural and Environmental Sciences, and two in Accounting. The rest are studying Law, Computer Science and Journalism.
     
    “There were awards for the most punctual, best behaved, the most outgoing, and the best public speaking student.  
     
    “For athletics, there were awards for students in specific skills, as well as the overall best athletic participant.  In the academics category, there was an award for the best student in every subject in both the intermediate and the advanced classes,” he said.
     
    AUN’s President, Dekle was quoted in the statement as saying: “I took special care looking at everything you have done, and I couldn’t be more proud.
     
    “You really do live out our virtues of excellence, integrity, and service.”
     
    Dr. Dekle promised to continue to work with the girls and to make the word “Chibok” become synonymous with positive virtues, with courage, integrity and knowledge.  
     
    “This year, I want you to work with me and everyone in this room to make Chibok the latest word in the Oxford English Dictionary.  Do you remember when I said we are going to make it something else besides a village?  C-Character, H-Honesty, I-Intelligence, B-Bravery, O-Openness, and K-Kindness,” she said.
     
    Ms. Uwais, noted that her invitation was an opportunity to really get to know how AUN is transforming the girls.  
     
    “I am delighted to be here.  Moreover, I am very inspired by what I have seen….This is just an awesome experience for me….This is really a worthwhile endeavor and I am very hopeful that this is just the beginning for all of you….You have come this far and you are going to go much farther because you all have some steel in you,” she said.
     
    Ms. Uwais said through the empowerment that they receive at AUN the students would go on to do great things in life.  
     
    She charged the young women to remain focused in their studies.
     
    “Even though what happened to you should not have happened to anybody, I am a firm believer in ‘everything-happens-for-a-purpose.
     
    “What has happened is that a vast opportunity has been created for you all here.  I expect that you will take advantage of it and be true to yourself and your faith.  And just reach out for the stars,” she added.
     
    Also, Assistant Vice President, Community Engagement, Reginald Braggs, who coordinates NFS, said: “This is always the special evening for us.  We highlight our students and all of the things that they have done in the last year academically, socially, and athletically.”
     
    Mr. Braggs noted that AUN, being a development university, felt obligated to do something about the tragedy that had befallen the kidnapped girls.
     
    “We offered these students the opportunity to turn tragedy into triumph,” Braggs added.
     
    According to the statement, NFS grouped the students on different scholastic levels–basic, intermediate, and advanced– starting with English Language, Mathematics, General Knowledge, and Spelling.  
     
    “Five more courses were then added and it became an eight-subject program.  They needed to get into a pipeline towards their dream.
     
    “We really want them to have an overall general type of education, not only focused on academics but also on activities such as basketball, bike riding, art class, game night, movie night, karaoke night, spelling bee contest, and music class,” Mr. Braggs added.
     
    The Administrator, NFS, Jimoh Abubakar, said the program is transforming the young girls.
     
    “The NFS is a highly organized group of intellectuals, saddled with the responsibility of teaching, nurturing, loving, mentoring, and perfecting the young ladies into a set of confident, academically sound, behaviorally upright, athletically fit, and active women capable of developing themselves and the society at large,” Abubakar added.
  • AUN commends FG over released Chibok girls

    AUN commends FG over released Chibok girls

    The American University of Nigeria (AUN) at the weekend commended the Federal Government on the release of 21 Chibok Girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno state in 2014.

    AUN President, Margee Ensign made the commendation in a statement issued by the Executive Director, Communications and Public Relations, Daniel Okereke, in Abuja on Sunday.

    She commended the government for its ongoing efforts to seek the release of the remaining women, and urged authorities to work tirelessly to free those still being held.

    “The American University of Nigeria (AUN) today hailed the news that 21 young women kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists were released 913 days after their abduction from the village of Chibok in the country’s northeast.

    “I am thrilled that the young women have been released and hope that after they recover they are able to continue their lives and education in peace.

    “We stand ready to help rebuild the lives of all of these young women and their families,” Prof Ensign said in the statement.

    She stated that the institution has a special bond with all of the victims and their families, adding that 24 of the 58 girls who escaped been kidnapped are now studying at the institution.

    “AUN has a special bond with all of the victims and their families. Of the 58 young women who escaped that night in April 2014, 24 are now studying at AUN on full scholarships provided by a donor from the U.S.

    “They are placed under a preparatory Foundation program at AUN where they receive specialized tutoring in English and math. Last year two of the young women were admitted into the university’s undergraduate programs, having met JAMB requirement, and four more were fully enrolled this fall,” she said.

    One of the escaped Chibok girl who is studying medicine at the university expressed happiness in the release of the girls.

    “We are happy beyond words that some of our sisters and friends are now free. We hope and pray that those still held will be given their freedom soon, and that some will join us here so that we can all work to rebuild our home,” she said in the statement.

    “AUN does not release the identities of the students for security reasons,” the statement added.

  • Four Chibok girls among AUN matriculated students

    Four Chibok girls among AUN matriculated students

    Four of the 24 Chibok girls who escaped from Boko Haram in 2014 were among the new students formally accepted by the American University of Nigeria (AUN), the institution has said.

    Executive Director, Communications and Public Affairs of the institution, Daniel Okereke, in a statement in Abuja, said the girls joined other students to take participate in the AUN’s convocation and pledge ceremony.

    Mr. Okereke, explained in the statement that the 24 girls who escaped from the hands of Boko Haram had been on AUN’s scholarship studying under a special preparatory program.

    The statement reads: “Also among the new students were those accepted from assorted applications for the maiden class of AUN’s new School of Law that kicked off thissemester.The AUN Law program uniquely offers concentrations in Humanitarian, Gender and Environmental Laws.

    “Others who took part in the ceremony were university graduates pursuing various postgraduate programs; among whom were18 winners of the 67 competitive AUN scholarships on offer, while several intakes were transferring from other universities in Ghana, Lebanon, Egypt, the United States and some European countries.

    “Apart from the novelty of admitting her first class of law students, the American University of Nigeria admitted the largest number of undergraduates in a semester in the past three years, signaling a return to pre-insurgency admission figures, even as commercial and other activities peak in Yola and other parts of Adamawa State.”

    AUN President, President Margee Ensign, who addressed the new students at the inside the Commencement Hall of the institution, explained that the type of education the new students would receive at AUN would ensure that students become leaders in their chosen fields.

    “This kind of education will train you to look at problems from varying perspectives.”

    President Ensign reminded them that they are being trained to be the leaders of the continent who, upon graduation, will be ready to solve the challenges that confront them, their community, their country, and their continent.

    “All universities identify new problems, come up with new ideas. They discover new truths and some change society. At AUN, Africa’s first Development University, this is what we are trying to accomplish.”

    “Whether those problems are poverty, literacy, inequality, injustice, or violence, AUN students deal with such problems during their time at university, asking questions about them, and finding solutions that improve the lives of their fellow human beings.

    “We not only provide you with a different sort of education, we provide you with the intellectual tools to become the future leaders of Africa,” she said.