The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Friday, commended Hensard University for its broad vision of raising entrepreneurs through its academic programmes that are based practical skills, theoretical grounding, international exposure and lineages, and ethical leadership. NDDC said entrepreneurship was one of the areas it would like to partner with Hensard.
Mr. Ogaga Akakabota, a Manager in the Commission’s Directorate of Education, Health and Social Services, made these remarks when led an NDDC team to Hensard, the first private university in Bayelsa State, on an assessment tour of the progress of work on both the temporary and permanent sites of the university.
He told journalists at premises of the university, that the NDDC team was impressed by the university’s management well-thought out policies and educational facilities, adding that Hensard had the facilities to raise a generation of youths that would be independent, productive and self- sufficient.
“We are here to carry out an evaluation, monitoring and assessment of the readiness of Hensard University. We got a proposal for scholarship, capacity building, grants and scholarships. So, we felt it was best for us to come see for ourselves what the school has done, its mission, vision and what it seeks to achieve in terms of educational development in the Niger Delta,” he said.
“After a tour of the take-off facility, the labs, farms, and other structures, our assessment, is that the facilities at Hensard are highly commendable.”
What further impressed the team about Hensard, he said was, “We also have seen that there is a broad vision, not just about people going to school to get a certificate. We have seen that the school is poised towards raising entrepreneurs. This will impact very well on its graduates. A shift from graduates being job-seekers to entrepreneurs, and employers of labour will be important at this time of high unemployment”.
He said Hensard’s vision and mission make it the type of institution the leadership of the NDDC would like to have partner with to achieve the Commission’s mandate.
“Hensard offers great benefits that make it an excellent choice for students. The university’s dual certification policy, allows students to earn two degrees – one from Hensard University and another from partner institutions. This enhances their qualifications and expands their opportunities,” the Registrar, Mrs. Evelyn Umukoro, who conducted the tour.
“The university’s international student exchange programmes that involve students and faculty to provide global perspectives and foster cultural understanding. Our students will also benefit from industry mentorship, practical entrepreneurship training, access to startup funds through the Students’ Contributory Cooperative Scheme, and cutting-edge research at the university’s centres of excellence, that are to be managed with reputable organisations,”
The Hensard experience, she said, would be delivered in the university’s smart lecture halls and through practicals in facilities like the fish ponds, poultry and the Film School.
Hensard is currently accepting applications for undergraduate and foundation school programmes. Students interested in pursuing their academic interests and career aspirations are encouraged to explore the university’s wide range of programmes across five faculties: Arts, Social Sciences & Management, Science and Computing, Agricultural Science, Communication and Media Studies, and Environmental Sciences.
The Hensard University Foundation School has been established to the needs of some students who may not meet the minimum admission requirements set by the National Universities Commission, NUC. The Foundation School offers pre-degree programmes tailored to prepare students for success in JUPEB, A-levels, O-levels, and JAMB examinations. Completion of the Foundation School provides an alternative pathway for direct admission to Hensard University.
Top Hensard University officials in tour included the Bursar Mr. Peter Onigah, Dr. Eucharia Igbafe, Director of Hensard University Foundation School and Dr. Clement Agiangie, Managing Director, Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation.