YENAGOA — PROFESSOR John Buseri wants Plymouth University, United Kingdom to expand the scope of its co-operation with the Niger Delta University. The English institution presently provides technical assistance to the Faulty of Agriculture of the Nigerian university.
Prof Buseri, who is Vice Chancellor of the Niger-Delta University, Wilberforce Island, made the call during a visit to the institution by a delegation from the Plymouth University, United Kingdom.
The Vice Chancellor while renewing the partnership relationship with the United Kingdom university which commenced in 2001 said the present limitation of the programme to the Faculty of Agriculture alone is inadequate for needs of the university as the university has eight faculties and a College of Health Sciences which also needs the support of Plymouth University.
“As you can see, we have eight faculties namely Arts, Agricultural Technology, Education, Engineering, Law, Social Sciences, Management Sciences and the College of Health Sciences which also has the Faculties of Medicine, Pharmacy and Nursing and we need your full participation in all these areas.
“The deans are anxious to have linkage programmes with your university,” the Vice Chancellor told the delegation.
He added that the content of the memorandum of understanding signed by the state government and the university authorities is to be fully implemented and emphasised the need to plough every available resources to the development of the university rather than focus on institutes.
Prof Buseri told the delegation led by Prof Rod Blackshaw that the state government is taking the university project seriously and has continued to provide funds for infrastructural development all aimed at addressing the manpower needs of the state.
“The training abroad of post graduate students by the state government was also to boost the quality of teaching staff available to the university” he said.
While commmending the team for the visit to the institution, Prof Buseri said the Niger Delta University is willing to work with Plymouth and other universities as may be recommended to address its areas of needs.
Earlier in his remark, leader of the delegation, Prof Blackshaw had said they were in the university to access the level of development and also extend its expertise in the areas of agriculture.
