US Consulate visits Dominican University
The US consulates in Abuja and Lagos visited the Dominican University, Samonda, Ibadan to explore partnership opportunities with the University.
The Vice-Chancellor, Dominican University, Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Akinwale, OP in his remarks gave a little background of the Dominican University as the first University in the African Continent that is promoted by the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) founded 1216 by St Dominic de Guzman.
He disclosed that the foundation of the Dominican University Ibadan was through the visionary input of Rev. Fr. Prof. Joseph Kenny, OP (former Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Ibadan), an American-Nigerian.
The DU Ibadan, he added, now has her first graduating set at the National Youth Service Corps, for their one year compulsory National assignment.
The prospect is high since they have exercised their entrepreneurial proficiency while at the University, he posited.
The US Consulates, during the visit highlighted the profile of Nigeria as one of the highest senders of students to USA tertiary institutions, most educated and high net worth migrants.
They affirmed that the first black American President of a University in the USA was a Nigerian.
During the interactive session between US consulates delegation and the student body, the students were conducted through an introductory course on Basics of Diplomacy.
Mr Clemson Ayegbusi, the Principal advisor and program coordinator on academic exchanges and professional development training programs for Fulbright and Humphrey scholarship, grant and fellowship, presented the scholarship support program available for students who are willing to study in the USA.
He also introduced to the Students, the re-opened American Corner; located at 54 Magazine Street, Ibadan, as an immediate contact point for all who wants to interact with the US.
The US Consulate confessed that they were captivated by the millage of celebrating the First Inaugural Lecture by Rev. Fr. Prof. Jude O. Mbukanma, OP, a Professor of Ethics and Philosophy of Religion with the title: "The Abandonment of Moral Science in the Pursuit of Natural Science Education: the Great Mistake in the Theory of Modernization"
They also donated some literature for use in the Dominican University, Ibadan library.
Consequently, Souvenirs were exchanged between the Dominican University, Ibadan and the US Consulate.
Thus, opening the University for Partnership, with the US Consulate, which is a derivative of the diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the United States of America anchored firmly on shared values of education/arts, religion, health, and entrepreneurship.
Dignitaries in the University present during the August visit were University's Dons, Statutory authorities, Governing board members, Deans of faculties and Heads of department which includes
Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Akinwale, OP (the Vice Chancellor); Mrs. Titi Abijo (Registrar); Mrs. Blessing Mba (Librarian); Rev. Fr. Francis Chiadi,OP (Chairman, Senate Ceremonies Committee); Prof. Francis Offor (Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Management and Social Sciences); and Prof. Oshitse Andrew Okwilagwe (Head, Department of Mass Communication).
The visiting team are Stephen Ibelli, Public Affairs Officer, US. Consulate General, Lagos led the delegation, Adnan Siddiqi, Counsellor for Public Affairs, US Embassy, Abuja and Clemson Aiyegbusi, Fulbright Coordinator, U S Consulate General, Lagos.