Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI), Ebonyi State, has secured the accreditation of the National Universities Commission (NUC) for 35 of its academic programmes.
It is the largest number of courses to have ever been accredited in the university since its establishment in 2011 in a single accreditation exercise.
The university had, between October and December 2023, presented 35 academic programmes to the regulatory body for either accreditation or reaccreditation. The courses were made up of two postgraduate and 33 undergraduate programmes, respectively.
The result released by the NUC as contained in a memo with reference number NUC/ES/412/VOL.14/361, addressed to the vice-chancellor of AE-FUNAI, Prof. Sunday Elom, dated June 6, 2024 and signed by the acting director of accreditation, Engr. Ibrahim Chundusu, on behalf of the executive secretary, shows that 31 of the undergraduate courses received full accreditation and two with interim accreditation while the two postgraduate programmes, M.Sc. Accountancy and M.Sc. Business Administration, were also accredited.
The courses with full accreditation status include: Accounting, Architecture, English & Literary Studies, French Language, History & Strategic Studies, Igbo Language, Linguistics, Linguistics French, Linguistics Igbo and Music. Other programmes with full accreditation are: Philosophy, Anatomy, Mass Communication, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Fine and Applied Arts, Law, Medicine and Surgery, Applied Geophysics, Biochemistry, Biology and Chemistry. Others include: Mathematics, Microbiology, Physics, Economics and Development Studies, Geography, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology.
The two courses with interim accreditation are Business Administration and Criminology & Security Studies.
The memo further noted that the implication of the accreditation status for postgraduate programmes is that it is valid for a period of five years; full accreditation status for undergraduate courses is valid for a period of five years (2023-2028) while interim accreditation status for undergraduate courses is valid for a period of two years after which the courses will be re-visited (2023- 2025).
While commenting on the extraordinary performance of the university in the accreditation exercise, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Elom noted that it was the fulfillment of one of his 16-point agenda on assumption of office in 2021, which entails his unbroken commitment towards ensuring that all the university’s academic programmes were approved and accredited by NUC and other relevant professional bodies before the end of his tenure.
He further assured of his administration’s resolve in running only approved and accredited courses to ensure that students graduate timely, without encumbrances.
The VC also commended the passion, dedication and unassailable work ethics of the staff – teaching and non-teaching alike, which have made the university one of the most serious public universities in Nigeria and a rapidly emerging citadel of learning in Africa, adding that without them, the accreditation exercise would not have been a success.
He further commended members of the university management, deans, directors, heads of departments, staff and students for their notable contributions towards the growth and development of the university over the years.
The VC therefore urged the staff to continue in such trajectory, assuring them of his commitment to their unfettered career progression and welfare.