New university will reshape Akwa Ibom education sector — VC

The pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Akwa Ibom State University of Education, Afaha Nsit, Prof. Philip Afaha, has said the newly established institution will help reshape the state’s education sector and produce graduates equipped for the changing global economy.

Afaha stated this on Thursday during the university’s first interactive session with members of its community, according to a statement made available to PUNCH Online.

“The decision to establish a specialised university of education would influence the future development of the state and strengthen its capacity to produce highly skilled manpower,” he was quoted as saying.

The institution was formerly the Akwa Ibom State College of Education, Afaha Nsit, before it was upgraded to a university following legislation signed into law by Governor Umo Eno on July 28, 2026.

Afaha, who was appointed the university’s pioneer vice-chancellor by Eno during the state’s World Teachers’ Day celebration, described his appointment as a responsibility rather than a personal achievement.

“To me, this appointment is not a trophy to be carried; it is a responsibility,” he said.

The vice-chancellor said the university would focus on teaching, research and community service while offering programmes spanning pedagogical sciences, humanities, management, natural sciences, social sciences, computing and emerging knowledge systems.

He said the institution would also align its curriculum with the standards of the National Universities Commission and global best practices.

Afaha identified academic excellence, institutional culture and infrastructure as key priorities of his administration, adding that the university would promote research, commercialise research outputs and develop innovations capable of addressing societal and economic challenges.

“We are poised to prepare our students for the global workforce, especially in the education industry, producing innovative technologies, incubating entrepreneurial projects and producing scientific discoveries that are useful for the overall development of our fatherland,” he said.

The VC also called for an end to divisions and factionalism among staff, urging members of the university community to put the institution’s interests above personal differences.

“As your vice-chancellor, I declare a ceasefire and an immediate end to bickering and factions on this campus,” he said.

He said the university would promote mentorship, training, workshops and collaboration with other institutions, while ensuring fairness, discipline and justice in its administration.

On infrastructure, Afaha said his administration would upgrade existing facilities and develop new ones to support teaching, learning and research.

He appealed to entrepreneurs, development partners and corporate organisations to support the institution with classrooms, hostels, laboratories, vehicles, computers, internet connectivity and other equipment.

“A public university like ours belongs to the people, and people must take ownership for it to survive,” he said.

Afaha said the university would not depend solely on government funding but would seek partnerships and other interventions within and outside Nigeria.

Defending the establishment of the specialised university, the vice-chancellor said developments in artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology and genetic editing had made it necessary to rethink existing educational systems.

“How do we connect our growing youth population to the global workspace without a requisite pedagogical infrastructure for the traditional and new knowledge systems?” he asked.

He said the university would seek to produce not only conventional job seekers but also educationists, innovators and entrepreneurs capable of competing globally.

Addressing the pioneer students, Afaha congratulated them on becoming the first students of the new university, noting that they had enrolled in a college and found themselves in a university.

He, however, warned against cultism, examination malpractice, sexual harassment and other acts capable of damaging the institution’s reputation.

“The world is waiting for us to deliver tangible results to earn their applause,” he told the students.