Human capital is germane to the development of Africa and as such efforts to grow and sustain quality human capital development on the continent must be commended.
This assertion was made by Phillips Oduoza, group managing director and chief executive officer, UBA plc, recently at the graduation ceremony of the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja.17
The UBA GMD who accompanied Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, coordinating minister of the economy in Nigeria and Ita Okon Bassey Ewa, minister of Science and Technology, who represented President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, said UBA’s support to the institution was borne out of the need to contribute to the educational growth of the continent.
“There is nexus between our vision as a leading pan-African bank and the ideals for setting up the AUST. We are convinced that the institution will go a long way in boosting the quality of human capital development in the continent,” he said.
The ICT Centre built, by UBA Foundation is fully equipped and is expected to be used for the advancement of education in the Pure and Applied Mathematics, Petroleum Engineering, Computer Science, Theoretical Physics and Material Science and Engineering departments of the school.
The African University of Science and Technology (AUST) is the first of the Nelson Mandela Institutions (NMIs). It was established in Abuja Nigeria in 2007, as a centre of excellence in science and technology with a focus on African development.
On her part, Ijeoma Aso, managing director UBA Foundation said the project falls under the foundation’s three focus areas of Education, Economic Empowerment and Environment.
She thanked the institution for the opportunity the use the centre to further its commitment to impacting positively on the lives of Africans through a number of laudable projects and initiatives.
Undergraduates at a recent job fair programme in Lagos
