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  • AUN offers scholarships to celebrate 20th anniversary

    AUN offers scholarships to celebrate 20th anniversary

    The American University of Nigeria (AUN) Yola has offered tuition scholarships to young students in Nigeria and other African countries in celebration of its 20th anniversary.

    According to the scholarship terms, incoming students will receive tuition fee discounts ranging from 10% to 50%, depending on the program they enroll in.

    The programmes in Nursing, and Public Health and Engineering – Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, and Telecommunications Engineering, are offering the most substantial discounts.

    In a statement by the Interim Registrar/VP, Administration, Daniel Okereke on Saturday, the management of the university said the scholarship award reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to offering quality education to deserving students, regardless of their economic or social background.

    President of AUN, Dr. DeWayne P. Frazier, described the scholarships as a welcome development aimed at motivating young Nigerians to choose to earn their first degree in their home country before seeking to further their education abroad.

    He added that AUN offers the same quality global education as obtained overseas at a fraction of the cost.

    Frazier stated that it was a further gesture of appreciation to the many AUN parents and alumni whose faith and belief in the university’s philosophy have become its most valuable assets. 

    He said: “We are thrilled to offer the new 20th Anniversary Tuition Scholarships in celebration of the two decades of the American University of Nigeria. These scholarships aim at recognising the outstanding achievements of our students as well as bolstering opportunities for more enrollment across the nation and the African Continent. 

    “We are urging students to take advantage of this new program as there will never be a time that the university fees are this competitively priced. Help us celebrate our 20th Anniversary at AUN!.”

    Dr. Frazier said the scholarships will also alleviate some of the hardships AUN parents face, some of whom have many members of their family attending the university. 

    “In particular, the fields of Nursing, Public Health, and Engineering have been highlighted to boost enrollment by students in the local communities and address the shortage of skilled professionals in these vital areas in the northeast region, which faces numerous socioeconomic challenges as it emerges from the aftermath of a decade-long insurgency.

    “Additionally, the University is bridging the manpower gap by launching a STEM initiative for senior secondary schools in Adamawa State, aiming to foster greater interest among students in science, technology, and the health sciences,” the statement said.

    It added: “Founded in 2003 by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Africa’s first Development University, the American University of Nigeria was established to identify and educate the brightest students from Nigeria and other African countries.

    “AUN commenced its academic activities in 2004 and welcomed its first class in 2005. It currently offers 33 majors and 14 minors in academic programs under seven Schools – Arts & Sciences, Business & Entrepreneurship, Information Technology & Computing, Law, Engineering, Basic Medical & Allied Health Sciences, and the Graduate School.

    “Entering graduate students will enjoy a 50% tuition fee remission under the 20th anniversary scholarship offers from the fall 2024 semester. The generous graduate scholarships are available to candidates enrolled in the AUN/UNICEF M.Sc. in Communication for Social and Behavior Change, Master of Business Administration, and Professional Master in Information and Communication Science, and Master in Telecommunication and Wireless Technologies, all of which are offered in hybrid modes, and well as the regular Masters and doctoral degrees in Software Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, Business Administration, and Entrepreneurship.

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    “AUN’s distinctive American-style liberal arts education focuses on community impact, aiming learning and research outcomes to address the diverse socioeconomic challenges prevalent in the northeast region, Nigeria and the African Continent. This exceptional orientation sets the university apart, according to Mr. Gwaha Madwate, AUN Class Speaker 2017, and currently enrolled in the Wadsworth African Doctoral Fellowship in South Africa.”

    Congratulating his alma mater on the anniversary milestone while applauding the scholarship offers, Mr. Gwaha Madwate, a recipient of the 2020 Mandela Rhodes Scholarship and 2022 MasterCard Foundation Scholarship, stated: “What AUN does differently is that it equips students with a service-driven mentality. In addition to being taught by scholars with global experience, AUN students receive leadership training and community service learning, which makes it very easy for them to access international scholarships seeking young people passionate about finding solutions to local problems.”

  • AUN graduates 126 at 11th convocation

    American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, has bidded farewell to 126 fresh graduates with a call on them to change the world with the knowledge and skills they acquired while in the university.

    It was the 11th time the university would be holding such event. The graduands comprised 89 and 37 first degree and post graduate degrees.

    AUN President, Dr Dawn Dekle, said: “AUN has given you the superpowers of service leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement. This is all you need to succeed in life, and you will be more powerful than others by continuing to develop these capacities. If you do, not only will you change the world, but you will enable a world of change.’’

    The event also saw the keynote speaker and a member of the House of Representatives Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje being conferred with Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa).

    Nnenna  said: “Our country is starving and in desperate need of fresh ideas, clear heads with unjaundiced vision and a youthful, purposeful leadership. I implore you to embark on a leadership renaissance that will redefine our nation’s identity.”

    A graduating student, Nitaranda Alexander, who studied Information Systems, said: “I was admitted into AUN in Fall 2015, which marked the beginning of my long development journey. My four years in AUN taught me that I can be more and I should always strive to be better version of myself.”

    Abdulrahman Godabe, who studied Software Engineering, added: “During my stay in AUN, I made a family of people who kept me going. AUN has a small class size that allows one-on-one faculty and student interaction. AUN has broadened my level of analysis, critical thinking and leadership.”

  • Fed Govt pays N164.7m school fees for Chibok girls at AUN

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved N164.7 million for the payment of second semester school fess of the freed 106 Chibok schoolgirls at the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, Adamawa State.

    The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said in a statement that the President expressed satisfaction over the progress so far made in the rehabilitation of the freed Chibok schoolgirls.

    According to him, Buhari expressed his feelings while reviewing the progress report on the affected girls.

    He said the report was submitted to the President in line with his commitment to personally monitor the rehabilitation and reintegration into society of the freed Chibokgirls.

    Shehu said the President also assured that the government would continue to provide full support for their education.

    The statement reads: “The President has approved payment of the sum of N164,763,759 million  for the second semester school fees of the 106 Chibok girls at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola.

    “According to the progress report received by the President, the decision to pursue avenues in addition to military action to free the abducted girls is in the resolve to protect the lives of all Nigerians.

    “To end the insurgency in the Northeast of the country, and to fulfill one of the campaign promises of the President.

    “In line with this, the Federal Government entered into negotiations with the Boko Haram terrorist group for the release of the Chibok girls who were kidnapped from their school dormitory on the night of April 14, 2014.

    “So far, two batches of 21 and 82 girls have been freed as a result of those negotiations.

    “Three additional girls were rescued by the gallant efforts of our armed forces, bringing the total number of freed Chibok girls so far to 106.”

    Shehu noted that as a result of their experiences while in captivity, the freed girls were severely traumatised and afflicted by various ailments and injuries.

    He stated that the girls were taken to secured medical centres for attention.

    The statement further reads: “They also went through debriefing and de-radicalisation by security operatives, after which the girls were handed over to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    “The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development was assigned the main role in supervising the rehabilitation and reintegration of the girls back into society.

    “Long before the girls were released, the Federal Government had established the ‘Chibok Girls Desk’ in the ministry, responsible for acting on matters relating to the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, and serving as a channel of communication between relevant agencies and the parents and relatives of the abducted girls.”

    The media aide said that the Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), UN Women and other donour agencies, embarked on programmes earmarked to facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration of the Chibok girls with a nine-month timeframe.

    According to Shehu, a hostel in the National Centre for Women Development was converted into a suitable shelter, where the girls were kept for the nine-month period.

    “The programme, which began in January, ended in September 2017. During the period, the 106 girls were given lessons in English, Mathematics, Biology, Agriculture, and Civic Education. In addition, they were trained on ICT and vocational skills.

    “Professionals were engaged to provide them with psychosocial therapy and one-on-one counseling to help them overcome post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).”

    The Presidential spokesman  noted that the girls were also provided with religious instruction and comprehensive care by two in-house doctors and two nurses.

    He said periodic visits from the girls’ parents to stimulate family support and reunion were sponsored and organised by the ministry.

    “Having successfully achieved the desired goals of the rehabilitation and reintegration programme, with recorded significant improvement in the academic performance of the girls, in September, a final send-off party was organised for the 106 Chibok girls.

    “They were subsequently moved to the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola for their foundation studies and continuation of their education.”

    He disclosed that the AUN had successfully established a foundation school for 14 out of the 57 Chibok girls who earlier escaped when the rest of their classmates were taken to the Sambisa Forest by Boko Haram in 2014.

    The presidential aide observed that the absorption of the girls into the AUN marked the beginning of their integration into the larger society, thus fulfilling Buhari’s promise of providing the best education for them.

    “Although they have been officially handed over to their parents, the Federal Government will continue to be responsible for the payment of the Chibok girls’ school fees up to their graduation,”  Shehu said.

  • AUN holds scholarship exams August

    American University of Nigeria has announced August 5 for it 2017 scholarship examination nationwide.

    The university said this in a statement issued by Executive Director, Communications and Public Relations, Daniel Okereke, in Abuja.

    Mr. Okereke said the highly competitive computer-based examination for the scholarships would take place in 25 centers across the federation

    He said the university would offer 75 merit scholarships to already accepted candidates in the 2017 fall semester.
    Assistant Vice President of Recruitment and Marketing, Julius AyukTabe, said the examination centers have been carefully selected to cover all the nation’s six geopolitical zones.

    According to the statement, two scholarship winners would emerge from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital territory, and one nationwide.

    The statement added that 18 year old Ms. Maryam Habila Usman, a former student of Air Force Girls Secondary school, Jos, emerged winner of last springs nationwide.

    The statement said, Ms. Usman, who hailed from Borno State, is in the Natural and Environmental Sciences program at the university.

    “Since its founding in 2003 by former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, AUN has been bringing together the best and brightest candidates from all over Nigeria, South Africa, Cameroon, Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Niger, Chad, Sierra Leone, and other African countries, to study under one roof.

    “The University seeks to make its American-style liberal education possible for all qualified applicants, regardless of family income.

    “Each year, AUN sets aside a large fund for scholarships and other forms of financial aid to undergraduate students.

    “Over the years, it has awarded about 1,000 different scholarships, including close to 300 covering full tuition, board, books, and meals.

    “In the 2016/2017 session alone, AUN dedicated more than ₦102 million to its scholarship program, for both new and returning students.

    “Scholarship students are often among the finest of AUN’s graduates.

    “The University’s Class of 2017 Valedictorian, Ms. Onyinye Immaculata Onuigbo, whose 3.98 CGA (out of 4 points) was the highest in the university’s history, was a scholarship student.  Identified by the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, Ms. Onuigbo, who hails from Enugu State, is the daughter of an electrician father and nurse mother. She completed her studies at AUN in its prestigious Petroleum Chemistry program.

    “The 2016 Valedictorian, Mr. Gregory Tanyi, also a scholarship student, is the son of an Engineering Professor and came to AUN from Cameroon. Tanyi studied Telecoms and Wireless Technology

    “Candidates are referred to the University’s website – www.aun.edu.ng  – for further details on how to apply,” the statement said.

  • AUN appoints former NNPC GED as professor and Dean of Business School

    The American University of Nigeria (AUN) has appointed a former Group Executive Director with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Attahir Yusuf, as the new Dean of the School of Business and Entrepreneurship (SBE).

    Dr. Yusuf now heads the SBE, one of AUN’s five schools and host of the university’s prestigious Business and Entrepreneurship programs taught by an experienced global faculty.

    The university announced the appointment in a statement issued by its Executive Director, Communications and Public Relations, Daniel Okereke, on Sunday in Abuja.

    The statement quoted the President of AUN, Dr. Dawn Dekle, as saying: “I am delighted Dr. Attahir Yusuf has accepted our offer to become the next dean of SBE.

    “He brings the right combination of academic credentials and industry experience to lead SBE to the next level of development. His infectious smile and professionalism have already captivated our campus community, and we look forward to learning from him and supporting him in his vision for SBE in the years to come.”

    Prof. Yusuf received his PhD in Management from the University of Sussex in the UK in 1986.  He has an MSc in Management Technology from the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (now University of Wales, Cardiff, Business School) in 1984.

    Following a long and productive international academic career, in 2005, Dr. Yusuf was appointed as General Manager Corporate Planning, NNPC, and a year later was promoted to Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Development, a position from which he oversaw Strategy, Budget, and Business Development matters.

    He rose to the position of Group Executive Director, Corporate Services, in April 2009 and was in charge of Human Resources, Medical, Pension, Security, and the London Office.

    He later became the Group Executive Director, Commercial and Investment.  In this position, he oversaw nine subsidiaries.  Dr. Yusuf was also the Group Executive Director of Business Development and a member of the Board of NNPC.

    Dr. Yusuf has chaired the boards of several other companies and is credited with establishing several companies for NNPC, including Crude and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Shipping companies (Nikorma and Nidas), and revamping the NNPC Retail Ltd and Duke Oil into profitable ventures.
    Before joining the NNPC, Dr. Yusuf taught in a variety of universities in Nigeria and abroad, including the University of Maiduguri; The University of the West Indies, Barbados; PNG University of the Technology, Papua New Guinea; the University of the South Pacific, Fiji; Massey University, New Zealand; Sultan Qaboos University, Oman, and the University of Sharjah, UAE.

    Dr. Yusuf has also consulted for companies in New Zealand, the Middle East, the West Indies, the South Pacific, and Africa. His expertise in consulting includes Organizational Development, Strategy Implementation, Change Management, Strategic Information Systems Management, and Small Business Development.

    Dean Yusuf’s scholarly research and professional activities have included the publication of more than 20 articles in academic journals such as the Journal of Small Business Management, the Journal of Entrepreneurship, and Journal of International Management.  He has also given over 30 international conference presentations and is a member of several international professional organizations.

    Being himself from Adamawa State, Dr. Yusuf plans to play a huge role in helping AUN as a Development University and in uplifting the region.

    “This University is great. I would say the AUN system is probably 80 percent of the economy of Yola, if not Adamawa State.  Therefore, if it succeeds, it is going to be more than just a success for me.  It will be most fulfilling for me.  And I came here purposefully to be part of that success,” he said in the statement.

    Founded in 2003, the AUN was created to be Africa’s first Development University; its mission is to promote service learning and to educate leaders who will be prepared to tackle the development issues of Nigeria and Africa.

    The University offers an American-style education modeled after the curriculum of American universities, using the latest in Internet technology and e-learning resources.

  • AUN appoints new President

    The Board of Trustees of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) has appointed Dawn Dekle as President of the university.
     
    Her appointment takes effect from July 1, 2017. 
     
    According to a statement by the Executive Director, Communications and Public Relations of the university, Daniel Okereke, Dr. Dekle, was selected after an international search and was endorsed unanimously by the board of trustees to assume the leadership role for the university. 
     
    The statement quoted the chairman of the board, Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun, as saying: “We are delighted that Dr. Dekle has accepted our offer and will join our learning community. I am confident that she will take our university into the next phase of development. Her vision for AUN in a global era resonated with the entire board and we welcome her with great enthusiasm and anticipation in the coming years.” 
     
    The statement said Dr. Dekle visited the AUN campus during the May commencement weekend and met with members of the Board and the AUN Community.
     
    “I believe AUN is the best kept secret in Nigeria. The campus is buzzing with potential, and I was inspired by this new generation of talent, the engaged learning experiences, and community collaborations,” she had said.
     
    Dr. Dekle is currently serving as president of Orkhon University in Mongolia.
     
    Before joining Orkhon University, Dr. Dekle was president of the American University of Iraq, provost at the American University of Afghanistan, and Dean at the S P Jain School of Global Management in Singapore.
     
    Prior to becoming a senior administrator, she was a faculty member at Singapore Management University, the National University of Singapore, James Madison University, and Dartmouth College.
     
    Dr. Dekle has held leadership positions outside of academia, such as council member for the Singapore Institute of International Affairs and as leadership specialist and global knowledge manager at the consulting firm McKinsey & Co., where she helped launch the McKinsey Center for Asian Leadership.
     
    As a scholar of psychology, law, leadership, and management, Dr. Dekle has published in academic journals, presented at international conferences, given keynote addresses for the Young Presidents Organization, and served as an analyst for television and radio regarding President Obama and his strategies in Asia and the Middle East.
     
    Dr. Dekle earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas A&M University, Ph.D. in psychology from Dartmouth College, and J.D. in law from Stanford University.
     
    “The AUN Board of Trustees invites everyone to welcome Dr. Dekle and join in the celebrations of her arrival to Yola this summer,” the statement added.
  • Shoprite Nigeria donates to AUN’s Feed and Read Programme

    Shoprite Nigeria donates to AUN’s Feed and Read Programme

    Shoprite has donated goods worth N2 million to the American University of Nigeria’s (AUN’s) Feed and Read Programme.

    The items, which included food, beverages, and toiletries, would help vulnerable children in the Northeast.

    The low literacy and numeracy rates are compounded by the number of children who are displaced, separated from families or orphaned; large numbers of displaced teachers; and schools that have been destroyed or closed due to violence in the area, said Shoprite management

    The programme teaches beneficiaries how to read and provides them with a meal every day.  It is aimed at preparing them to move into mainstream schooling and/or finding employment.

    The donation reflects Shoprite Nigeria’s support for the Feed and Read programme and the incredible hard work and persistence of its team.

  • AUN career fair ends today

    American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola will today conclude its yearly career and graduate fair which began in Lagos yesterday.

    The exercise, according to the university management, would provide a networking platform for employers and the school graduates employees.

    The Director of Career, Counselling & Placement, Mrs. Grace Nwokoma, said the exercise which holds at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, serves as an opportunity for graduate schools and multinationals to recruit budding undergraduate of AUN.

    Nwokoma said:  “It is a platform for students and alumnus to connect with companies, business leaders, government agencies, captains of industry, and diplomatic missions to explore internship and employment opportunities.

    “In previous years, the fair had produced two out of three students who participated and gained internship or direct employment with top multinationals and local companies across Nigeria.

    The fair also encourages AUN alumnus to recruit qualified candidates. dates in their respective companies.

     

     

     

  • 18-yr-old Borno girl tops AUN scholarship exam

    Eighteen-YEAR-OLD Maryam Habila Usman, a former student of Air Force Girls Secondary School, Jos, is the overall winner of the nationwide scholarship examination into the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola.

    Maryam, who is from Borno State, applied to study Natural and Environmental Sciences at AUN.

    She had the highest score in the scholarship examination held in six centres in all the geopolitical zones of the country, last December.

    She is one of 34 recipients of the scholarship for spring 2017.

    As overall winner, Ms. Usman’s award will cover tuition, board, meals and other fees at AUN.

    Welcoming her and other spring scholarship awardees, President Maggie Ensign said: “I would like to congratulate all of our scholarship winners, and to welcome them to the AUN community. Ms. Usman and her fellow AUN students represent the brightest hope for a better future for Nigeria and for Africa.  We shall all do our very best to ensure that their time with us is as rewarding and fruitful as they clearly deserve. Congratulations all.”

    Maryam made all ‘A’s in her Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and scored 253 in the 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    In an essay that accompanied her admission application, Maryam said: “I have chosen AUN because I consider it [to be] one of the [most] prestigious universities in Africa and a place where I can fulfill my dream.”

    Her choice of course was informed by being born in a perennially flooded neighbourhood in Lagos, hence her desire for environment-related studies.

    The Assistant Vice President of Marketing & Recruitment, Linus Ikyurav, who released details of the awards, said altogether 34 candidates won 45 of the 49 available slots.  Four states—Gombe, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, and Yobe—did not field eligible candidates.

    The university  had also offered 67 scholarships to students across Nigeria during the 2016 Fall semester which began on August 26. This brings to 116 the  number of scholarships offered to fresh students by AUN in this academic year.

    Result of the scholarship exams have been posted on the university’s website.

  • Why we organized open technology house seminar for our students – AUN

    The American University of Nigeria (AUN) has said its open technology house seminar would help develop and keep students of the institution informed about modern technologies.

    The Open House featured three tracks: Web Design and Applications; Database Management and System Modeling Track, and Server Administration and Telecommunications.

    Dean of Computer Science, Dr. Mathias Fonkam, at the end of the eight series seminar in Abuja, said that most people do not understand the capabilities of the technology they carry.

    “Today the mobile phone you carry is a whole computer, hundreds of thousands of times faster than the computer that landed man on the moon. Most people still use it for nothing but calls.

    “We pool other universities here and we try to present short workshops to the community to introduce them to some of these technologies so that they can leverage them in their day-to-day activities in their organizations or at personal levels.

    “If you look at the strategic plan of this University, technology is labelled as a key pillar of that agenda.  It is expected of us that we go beyond teaching students or doing research.

    My hope is that you will learn something from this to better leverage those technologies to enhance your productivity daily,” he said.
    He went on to explain how the open house can help them understand some of the functionalities of their handheld devices.

    Fonkam said the focus of this event was “to share innovations in mobile technology that are transforming our world” with the University and the host community.

    “We tell you how you can use your phone, how you can connect your phone to the cloud, how to use free resources from cloud in computing, to store information or to interact with others, how to use database technology, how to use excel to manage your business, and so many other things,” he stated.

    He said the use of technology would also assist those in leadership positions in the country to take decision.

    “Technology when properly applied can help people in leadership management positions to see how they can understand the complexities of managing the people and their organizations to achieve better results.

    “The biggest change we have in Nigeria and I believe this is huge Africa is not technology but people related. Most of the time we are focused on the technical part rather than the people. People matters a lot,” he added.

    The Dean said the President of AUN, Margee Ensign had made a commitment to recognize and reward students who come up with software systems that can make a huge difference in the community.

    On the impact of AUN’s technology seminar on the economy, Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Hussaini, of the School of Information Technology and Computing (SITC), said that the show would benefit both private and public sectors.

    According to him, the technology seminar would not only to improve how people efficiently handle their day-to-day activities in their offices, but to manage their businesses as well.

    He added that businesses within and outside Yola have also adopted some ideas from the initiative to improve the efficiency of their businesses.

    Also, a Prof. of System Dynamics in the university, Prof. Jean Cleron, urged the government to adopt modern technologies to help grow the economy.

    “I don’t think it is too important to be obsessed with whether the technology is new or not. What is important is to be able to use the technology even if the technology is not that new. But if you can really absorb that technology and use it to help the economy to develop.

    “This is what we are doing. I don’t think there is any other place in Nigeria where this is done. Not only in Nigeria even the entirety of Africa. I believe that Africa will never make it if Nigeria does not make it.

    “See the responsibility that you have? We are conscious of that responsibility and we are trying to bring you some of the tools that you need to get there,” he said.