The Vice-Chancellor of the Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, Prof Samuel Aje, on Monday, said plans have been concluded for the take-off of the College of Aeronautics and Aviation Technology in the University before the end of 2022.
The Vice-Chancellor who disclosed this during a press conference to herald the 13th Anniversary of the institution said the establishment of the Aeronautics and Aviation Technology in the school will position the institution as the only university in West Africa to offer such programme.
He disclosed that the new College which will kick-off in 2022 will be complemented with an in-built 1.5-kilometre runway which will be located in Owo, headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of the state.
He noted that there is no institution in West Africa with professional training in the field of Aeronautics and Aviation Technology and pledged that the institution will produce the best in this field.
He said apart from the introduction of Aeronautics and Aviation Technology, Achievers University would soon commence Medicine as a course which will be accompanied by a Teaching hospital and a Research Development Centre.
He said: “The school is conscious of the numerous role the University can play in the development of any nation, the Management and Governing Council are deploying strategy and resources in establishing, in no distance future, a College of Medicine with the accompanying Teaching Hospital as well as Research Development Centre, which will hopefully build the bridge between the school and the industries.
“Closely following the above is the College of Aeronautics and Aviation Technology with an in-built 1.5km runaway to be located in Owo. An arrangement concerning these projects have reached an advanced stage”
He said: “The land for the project has been acquired, We want to make it the best.
“As at now, there is no university that offers that kind of programme in Nigeria. It requires a lot of work and we are already talking with our partners. South Africa has something of such but we want ours to be the best in Africa.”
Speaking on the programmes lined up to mark the 13th Anniversary, the VC said a lecture with the theme: “Challenges of Re-Inventing Quality University Education in Nigeria” which would be delivered by the Founder and Pro-Chancellor, Lead City University, Ibadan on Friday, December 11, 2020.
The Vice-Chancellor maintained that the institution remained the best in the field of Medical Laboratory Science and Nursing, saying the first induction of the University’s Nursing graduate was conducted on November 14, 2020.
“ln the professional areas, I dare say that we are among the best, if not the best among the universities presenting students for Nursing and Midwifery professional examinations in Nigeria.
“We are equally and undoubtedly among the best in the field of Medical Laboratory Science. Our Law students have started distinguishing themselves among students of much older universities by hauling medals and awards before getting to the graduating year.
“Achievers University has within this period graduated about four Thousand (4,000) students in various fields. In view of these landmark achievements, Achievers University School of Postgraduate Studies took off in the 2018/2019 academic session and has recorded 61 candidates who have successfully completed their postgraduate studies.
He also used the opportunity to emphasised that the institution’s Pro-Chancellor, Dr Bode Ayorinde and the Council, through the window of its corporate social responsibility, approved tuition-free for 11 courses for three academic session starting from 2020/2021 calendar due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nigerian Tribune