AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
University of Ibadan and Kabarak University, Kenya are working on a Memorandum of Understanding to develop academic and cultural exchanges by offering mutual assistance to each other in area of research.
The efforts of the two universities to collaborate reached an advanced stage with the visit of the Dean, School of Music and Media Studies, Kabarak University, Kenya to UI.
Professor Kayode Adebowale, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, while receiving Prof. Mellitus Wanyama from the Kenyan university in his office, noted that the gesture would give the universities opportunity to broaden their relationship.
Adebowale said that the University of Ibadan was looking forward to promoting acquisition of skills and knowledge, pointing that the Department of Music, University of Ibadan, being a new department, would seize the advantage to learn from the Department of Music, Kabarak University.
The VC stated that a similar gesture would be extended to other affiliated institutions such as IITA for the purpose of research and academic development.
In his speech, Wanyama who explained that the visit was to reciprocate earlier gestures by the UI officials to Kabarak University, expressed the hope that this would be one of the most active MOUs in Africa.
A faith based university offering programmes from bachelor degrees to the Ph.D level, Kabarak University is well grounded and noted for excellence.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions is expected to cover exchange of academic staff and students; exchange of academic materials and information; transfer of academic credits for students; development of joint degree programmes; and organisation of conferences.
Wanyama expressed the interest of Kabarak University in being a member of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) with the influence of the University of Ibadan.
