NMC partners varsities on reintroduction of postgraduate programme

THE National Mathematical Centre is working with the University of Abuja to reintroduce and expand the post-graduate programme previously run jointly by both institutions.

Director and Chief Executive of the Centre, Professor Stephen Onah, speaking when he received the Vice Chancellor of University of Abuja, Professor Michael Adiukwu on courtesy visit, said this was part of his effort to reinvent the vision of the founding fathers and of the mandate of NMC.

He said the centre established as an Inter-University Centre is supposed to have dealings with departments of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences in all institutions of higher learning.

The centre has had difficulties in carrying out its mandate as a result of poor funding over the years.

Professor Onah told the Senate Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary) last week that he met the centre with mixed blessings-“while the efforts of my predecessors speak for themselves in the various ingenious instructional materials available in the stores, the establishment of the International Model Science Academy (IMSA), innovative and efficacious training programmes and strategic plans, the physical structures are in a state of dilapidation, poor power supply, inadequate equipment, grounded vehicles, poor Internet service and poorly funded library.

A statement by the Head of Information of NMC, Mr Onyekachi Njoku, in Abuja said Onah gave the assurance of the willingness of the centre to collaborate and work together with institutions of higher learning to improve and enhance the study of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences at all levels of the education system.

The NMC Chief Executive explained that the Centre has adequate personnel to complement the effort of universities in improving the teaching and learning of Mathematics and Sciences in Nigerian universities.

He stressed that the centre’s academic programmes are run in seven areas which include Mathematics, Mathematics Education, Theoretical Physics, Computer Science, Statistics, Chemistry as well as Special programmes.

He also stressed the need for both institutions to engage in joint research to be published in highly rated reputable international journals.

On his part, the Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja, Professor Michael Adiukwu pointed out that the essence of the visit was to strengthen the relationship between both institutions.

The vice chancellor expressed optimism that the Memorandum Of Understanding, (MOU) signed by both institutions last year would strengthen the existing collaboration and be able to expand it to other areas.