Tag Archives: UNIZIK

UNIZIK Lecturers To Teach Igbo Language In China

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The Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, (UNIZIK) Awka, Prof Joseph Eberendu Ahaneku, has disclosed an ongoing arrangement that would allow people from the university to teach Igbo language and culture in Xiamen University, China.

He said the teaching of the local language would encourage knowledge sharing between the two institutions, with the teaching of Chinese language already in place in some tertiary institutions in the country.

Ahaneku disclosed this during the send-forth ceremony of 54 students of Confucius Institute of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, who bagged scholarships to study in different Chinese universities.

He urged the students to make best use of the opportunity, noting that the Chinese government would sponsor three of the awardees, while the Confucius Institute would train the rest.

He expressed satisfaction with the growth of the Confucius Institute in UNIZIK, where over 100 students have gained scholarship to study in China for various degrees.

It was learnt that 3000 students had already accessed Chinese Language Proficiency tests (HSK), while 400 students gained admission into top Chinese universities through scholarship platform of HANBAN.

The Vice Chancellor further said the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding had progressed smoothly as Chinese Language and Culture were taught at both Diploma and Degree levels in the university.

Addressing the students, the VC expressed joy that the efforts of the Institute have yielded positive results. He recalled his tenure as the Director of the Confucius Institute of the university for four years before rising to his current position of Vice Chancellor.

According to him, before now, the Confucius Institute existed only in Nnamdi Azikiwe University and University of Lagos but now, a new one is being developed at the Bayero University Kano.

It was learnt that the Chinese Cultural Research Centre of Nigeria was commissioned recently at UNIZIK by the Cultural Attachee of the Chinese Embassy in Abuja, Mr. Yan Xiang Dong.

The Vice Chancellor commended the centre and pleaded with the Chinese government to offer employment to graduates of the centre, who also have other skills acquired from their degree programmes.

According to him, without proper engagement, the graduates would feel disillusioned. He also challenged China to use the products of the centre as a base to solve the challenges of communication by offering them job in different Chinese companies.

“I look forward to this centre being used as a base for prospective knowledge and knowledge transfer; a base for prospective commercial and technological advancement and a base for true diplomatic Counselor relationship and as an extension of Chinese Embassy in Nigeria.”

The Director of the Chinese Cultural and Research Centre, Prof. Wang Bo, said the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and China has opened doors for commerce and economic exchange between the two countries.

Bo added: “Henceforth, our windows are wide open to accommodate all academia and researchers who may have China and Nigeria as their case study to come in and explore the opportunities here for their research work.”

The Chinese Attache and Director of China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Mr. Yan Xiangdong, promised to support UNIZIK for the growth of the cultural centre domiciled in the institution.

Read More: dailytimes

UNIZIK Students Make Mini Bus From Local Materials

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Seven final-year engineering students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, designed and constructed a mini bus from scratch with locally sourced materials made specially to suit Nigeria’s topography and climatic condition.

“The bus was constructed from start to finish at the University’s workshop, using all necessary design software and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools. We constructed the chassis, down to every single part of the mini bus,” said Callistus Ezeigwe, one of the seven. The group, known as the Autozik Group, was made up of six males and a female including Callistus Ezeigwe, Victor Obinani, Ifeanyi Ezeanolue, Ogbu Ikenna, Fidelis Ominigbo, Nnamdi Nwobodo and Chinaza Okoro, was supervised by the then Head of Mechanical Engineering Department, Dr. C.H. Achebe.

“We made the mini bus using mere hand tools. This means we did all of the constructions and folding, with our hands, since the university could not provide us with ground equipment, as used in most automobile companies,” said Ezeugwu. The mini bus which took about five months to complete, has a beautiful finishing so that people find it difficult to believe it was made in Nigeria.

Ezeigwe said the aim was to construct a mini bus using locally sourced materials, which is more durable and can better stand the test of time, compared to other brands out there.

“We named it Autobully,” said Obinani Victor, explaining that the brand name, coined from the normal bullion van, fits the shape of the mini bus.

Credit: vanguardngr

UNIZIK Mechanical Engineering Students Produce Mini Bus

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The Department of Mechanical Engineering of the university had again proved that it was not just good in theory but also in the practical aspect of their studies.  Seven graduating students from the department constructed a “made in Nigeria” mini bus to the satisfaction of the university community.

The journey into car manufacturing in the university started last year, when a group of five students from the same department produced a Formula 1 car called AutoZIK. The seven students include Ezeigwe Chitoo, Obinani Victor, Ezeanolue Ifeanyi, Okoro Chinaza, Ominigbo Fidelis, Nwobodo Nnamdi  and Ogbu Thaddeus.

They were supervised by the Head of the department, Dr. C.H. Achebe. South East Voice learned that the group, which is known as ‘AUTOZIK II,’ spent over five months constructing the mini bus for shuttles within and around the university with locally sourced materials.

Like the popular saying, “What a man can do, a woman can do even better,” the conspicuous presence of a female, ‘Okoro Chinaza’ in the team spoke volumes. On how she was able to surmount the challenges as the only female in the midst of her male counterparts with respect to the stress associated with such herculean tasks, she said: “I had always been in their midst right from my first year in school, so it was not really a big deal.”

She disclosed that she had always followed her passion regardless of what people around said or thought.  Narrating the success story, one of the engineers, Ezeigwe Chitoo, said that the project was a dream come true.  “The Autozik group made the design using CAD software, and all necessary simulation softwares for the analysis, putting the environment into critical consideration. The bus has good seating positions, better fuel conservation, good passenger view and very good aesthetics. It was built to suit the topography of our environment and the weather condition we have in this part of the world,” he said.

Credit: Vanguard