Unizik Vision 200: Academic Staff Undergo training to boost Productivity 

Members of academic staff, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state, Tuesday, received capacity building seminar to boost productivity and achieve the vision 200 of the university.

Recall that the University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Okechukwu Esimone had, upon assumption to duty on June 4, 2019, promised to place the institution among the first 200 ranking universities in the world. This vision propelled the orientation seminars across the institution.

The training was done in batches for all faculties, and Tuesday orientation exercise was for Faculties of Education and Engineering, this paper reports.

The event took place at the University Multi-Purpose Hall, and was themed, “Unizik Project 200: A Paradigm for Personnel and Institutional Development”.

While declaring the event open, Prof. Esimone, noted that the Project 200 would put the institution in world map, and identified academic achievement, discipline, efficiency of process, relevance to community and administrative excellence, as part of strategies to attain the project.

Esimone, represented by the Director, Budget and Project Monitoring Directorate, Prof. Ogo Ibeneme, noted that every staff and student has a role to play in achieving positively to the Project 200.

According to the vice-chancellor, it’s questionable and a red flag to have poor attitude to work no matter how skilled you are. “Let everyone key into this Project 200, both in the manner we teach our students and the we go about our duties. We must believe in this mission, be productive to attain development in our university, state and the nation, at large”.

Also speaking, the chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Unizik chapter, Comrade Stephen Ufoaroh, told his audience to drive the Project 200 vision, in order to be part of the success story. He encouraged participants to look beyond any challenge, as well as remaining focus on the project. He said the vision should be seen beyond the present administration.

In a presentation, Director, Counselling and Career Development Centre, Prof. Harry Obi-Nwosu, said Project 200 could not be achieved if staff have psychological issues that drain them, and assured that the centre, inaugurated by the current vice-chancellor, was there to help fight staff stress, choice problem, relationship and adjustment in the campus. This, he said, would help staff have psychological equanimity towards actualisation of their potential.

Obi-Nwosu said the ultimate goal of the project was derived from the overall goals of the university, and stressed the import of value readjustment by staff to drive goal attainment. He said the University was driving towards self-sufficiency both at individual and institutional levels. He tasked staff on hard work and cooperation to build a stronger academic community.

Delivering a lecture on ‘Mentoring in Project 200’, Prof. Chinyelu Nwokolo, former head of department, Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, called for more support, encouragement and coaching among senior and junior colleagues. She told her audience to identify a mentor to advance their career, while stressing the import of teamwork among staff.

Prof. Oby Ewelumadu, had, in a lecture on Ethics, tasked participants on attitudinal change, avoid exploiting students, as well as collaborate among themselves. Ewelumadu was represented by Dr Chika Abba.

In separate remarks, Prof. Glad Unachukwu and Prof. Nkechi Ikediugwu, among other scholars, reiterated the need to pay proper attention to students. They commended the ‘Project 200’ initiative.