University of Nigeria

The University of Nigeria is in the Enugu State town of Nsukka. It was founded by Dr Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first president of Nigeria. It is the first indigenous university in Nigeria.

Noted author Chinua Achebe has held research and teaching appointments at the university since the early 1970s. Astronomer Samuel Ejikeme Okoye founded the Space Research Center in 1972: the SRC remains one of the few institutions in Africa that researches and offers courses in astronomy at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The University has two campuses, in Nsukka (University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN) and in Enugu (University of Nigeria Enugu campus, UNEC). UNEC houses the Faculties of Medicine, Law, Business, Health Sciences and Environmental Studies. UNN houses the Faculties of Agriculture, Arts, Biological Sciences, Education, Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine.

The medical school, in Enugu, has most of it activities in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), also in Enugu. Here, doctors and other health workers are trained with the highest standards and have proven over the years that they can effect a significant positive change in Africa and indeed the entire worlds’ healthcare system. Doctors and indeed nurses trained in the institution are seen all over the world contributing to the advancement of medicine.

The College of Medicine carried out the first open heart surgery in sub-Saharan Africa in 1974 (Not so, Dr christian bernard of South Africa was first; in fact second heart transplant worldwide in 1966, thanks. It has since evolved into the center for cardiothoracic excellence for the West Africa region. A lot of medical research is also being carried out in the college. Most of the projects are nearing completion, but it is pertinent to note that some too, have fallen short of completion due to lack of finances and the Government’s reluctance to fund private research.

Of recent a lot of work has emanated from the Department of Pharmacology where a new agent against HIV was derived from a local plant source. Named “irab” the new agent is thought to be a fusion inhibitor and studies in initial clinical trials have shown astouding results.

UNN’s current Vice Chancellor is Professor Chinedu O. Nebo (Professor of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering)

Its motto is To Restore the Dignity of Man.

History

A law to establish a University in the Eastern Region of Nigeria was passed in 1955. While that date marks the formal beginning of the history of the University of Nigeria, the enactment of this legislation was the culmination of many years of thought and discussion by several Nigerian leaders, and inspired particularly by the then Premier of the Eastern Region, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. One of the first steps taken by the Eastern Nigeria Government towards the implementation of its commitment was an invitation to both the United States of America and the United Kingdom to send advisers to help in the planning of physical and educational aspects of the proposed university.

Under the joint auspices of the Inter-University Council for Higher Education and Overseas and the International Co-operation Administration (now the United States Agency for International Development), J.W. Cook, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, Dr John A. Hannah, President of Michigan State University and Dr Glen L. Taggart, Dean of International Programmes at the same university, came to Nigeria in 1958. The team surveyed the site at Nsukka, and extensively investigated a great variety of factors pertinent to the establishment of a new university. The results of their efforts were contained in a white paper issued by the Eastern Nigeria Government on 30 November 1958. They had recommended “that the development of the University of Nigeria based upon the concept of service to problems and needs of Nigeria, is a desirable project and one that should receive support from any source which could help to make it a sound endeavour”.

They further recommended that a provisional council be established to “draw upon the technical and consultative resources available throughout the world for help in planning the institution”.

This provisional council, authorized by the Eastern Nigeria Legislature, was appointed by the Governor in Council in April 1959, and given necessary financial and administrative powers to build a sound university.

The provisional council reflected the spirit of international cooperation which has given birth to the institution. It consisted of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chairman, Dr T. Olawale Elias and Dr Okechukwu Ikejiani from the Federation of Nigeria, J.S. Fulton from the United Kingdom, Dr Margueritue Cartwright and Dr Eldon Lee Johnson from the United States of America.

The University was formally opened on 7 October 1960, as the climax to the Nigerian independence celebrations in the Eastern Region. Her Royal Highness, Princess Alexandra of Kent, representing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the Nigerian independence celebrations, performed the opening ceremonies and laid the foundation stone of one of the University’s early buildings.

Classes began on 17 October 1960 with an enrollment of 220 students and 13 members of the academic staff. The opening convocation addresses were delivered by the Chairman of the Provisional Council, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first President of the Federation of Nigeria, and by Dr John A. Hannah, President of Michigan State University, USA. Thus was the University born.