The annual international visitor leadership programme organised by the United States for established or potential foreign leaders in government, politics, media, education, the arts, NGOs, business, labour relations, public policy and other key fields has ended in the U.S.
Seven vice-chancellors of Nigerian universities were part of the programme.
The vice chancellors were selected among other foreign leaders in over 120 countries to visit the US, meet and confer with their professional counterparts, and to experience US politics, education, society and culture firsthand.
The programme, titled "University Planning, Administration and Management," was attended by Bassey Okon Asuquo (University of Calabar), Michael Oladimeji Faborode (Obafemi Awolowo University , Ile-Ife) and Attahiru Muhammadu Jega (Bayero University, Kano ).
Others were Olugbemiro Jegede (National Open University, Lagos), Celestine Onyemobi Onwuliri (Federal University of Technology, Owerri), Ikenna Onyido (Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike) and Sonni Gwanle Tyoden (University of Jos).
Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Julius Okojie, who led a party of the seven university administrators to the programme, said their participation followed "several months of preparation between the American Embassy in Abuja, the State Department in Washington DC, NUC and the participating universities."
According to Okojie, the programme seeks to build understanding between the United States and people of other countries through carefully designed visits that reflect the visitor’s professional interests and support the foreign policy goals of the US Department of State and embassies abroad.
The Department of State had outlined specific objects for the project, and during their visit, the vice-chancellors and their contemporaries examined the US system of higher education, its structure, administration, and support services.
They also explored the needs and responsibilities on higher education and its changing relationship with industry and other elements of society.
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