Kwara State University
Encyclopedia
KWARA STATE UNIVERSITY, also known as KWASU is the 77 University to be registered by the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC). It is the 95th University to be recognized in Nigeria .
Established by the administration of Dr. Bukola Saraki in 2009, the Kwara State University was envisioned to be more than a typical university in Nigeria. It was designed to be a center for community service and entrepreneurship. In a country where the fundamental values of volunteerism and community involvement are yet to be fully embraced, Kwara State University sets itself apart as an institution built around the community.
The university recognises itself as a part of a community and is determined to make its impact felt. To champion this cause the position of a Director for Community Development was created for the purpose of mobilizing the community, setting assessment strategies, and identifying the needs within the community so that lecturers can use their expertise to impact directly on the communities.
Also, Kwara State University is the first university of its kind in Nigeria that has recognised the urgent need for a university education that is focused on value re-orientation towards self-employment and job creation. The identification of this need led to the creation of the Entrepreneurship Center.
On July 11, 2007 the Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki inaugurated a Planning Committee under former Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi to prepare ground for the establishment of the Kwara State University. The Bill for the Kwara State University was signed into law on December 24, 2008. The certificate and instrument to operate the university was obtained on February 9, 2009 from the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, who until his appointment, was Chair of the African American Studies Department of the Western Illinois University
, Macomb, United States of America, assumed office on Tuesday, July 28, 2009.
When fully operational, the university is designed to have academic activities with five colleges operating from three campuses located in Malete, Ilesha-Baruba and Osi-Opin.
Malete campus: is the main campus and houses the College of Pure and Applied Sciences, College of Information and Communication Technology, and the College of Education. Osi (Ekiti local government) campus: should house the College of Humanities, Management and Social Sciences. Baruba (Baruten Local government) Campus: should house the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences.
Other centers of the University are; Center for African Oral Traditions, Institute for Asian Studies, Ibrahim Gambari Center for the Study of United Nations and Regional Organizations, Center for Pre-degree and Remedial Studies, Center for Human Rights and the law,Center for Modernity and Religion, Center for Art Preservation, Center for Sponsored Projects, Center for Innovation in Teaching and Research, Center for Innovative Technology, Center for Innovation and International Studies, Center for Bio-Computational Applications and the Center for Entrepreneurship.
KWASU’s commitment to ensuring an international dimension to research, teaching and campus life is further demonstrated in its study abroad opportunities. The school offers the unique opportunity for their students to study abroad and earn credits from courses taken. While KWASU plans to expand its study abroad locations, it currently has a partnership with Thammasat University
in Thailand.
Kwara State University is equally distinguished by its ability to attract and retain quality staff. Its teaching staff consists of eminent scholars such as Prof. Leo Daniels, MLK Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, (MIT) as Provost at the School of Engineering, Prof. Abiola Irele from Harvard University
as Provost at the College of Humanities, Management and Social Sciences; and Prof. Winston Wole Soboyejo
from Princeton University
amongst others.
Established by the administration of Dr. Bukola Saraki in 2009, the Kwara State University was envisioned to be more than a typical university in Nigeria. It was designed to be a center for community service and entrepreneurship. In a country where the fundamental values of volunteerism and community involvement are yet to be fully embraced, Kwara State University sets itself apart as an institution built around the community.
The university recognises itself as a part of a community and is determined to make its impact felt. To champion this cause the position of a Director for Community Development was created for the purpose of mobilizing the community, setting assessment strategies, and identifying the needs within the community so that lecturers can use their expertise to impact directly on the communities.
Also, Kwara State University is the first university of its kind in Nigeria that has recognised the urgent need for a university education that is focused on value re-orientation towards self-employment and job creation. The identification of this need led to the creation of the Entrepreneurship Center.
History/Organization
The journey towards establishing a State University in Kwara State began in November 1990. In 2002, Kwara Polytechnic was converted into a University by the then Governor of Kwara State Late Alhaji Mohammed Alabi.On July 11, 2007 the Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki inaugurated a Planning Committee under former Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi to prepare ground for the establishment of the Kwara State University. The Bill for the Kwara State University was signed into law on December 24, 2008. The certificate and instrument to operate the university was obtained on February 9, 2009 from the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, who until his appointment, was Chair of the African American Studies Department of the Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University is a public university founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. Like many similar institutions of the time, Western Illinois State Normal School focused on teacher training for its relatively small body of students. As the normal school grew, it became...
, Macomb, United States of America, assumed office on Tuesday, July 28, 2009.
When fully operational, the university is designed to have academic activities with five colleges operating from three campuses located in Malete, Ilesha-Baruba and Osi-Opin.
Malete campus: is the main campus and houses the College of Pure and Applied Sciences, College of Information and Communication Technology, and the College of Education. Osi (Ekiti local government) campus: should house the College of Humanities, Management and Social Sciences. Baruba (Baruten Local government) Campus: should house the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences.
Academics
Kwara State University has several academic centers. One of such centers is the Center for Ecology and Environmental Management and Studies CEERMS which recently received a grant from (UNESCO) worth $15.3 million to be used over a six year period to establish the UNESCO Chair for Alternative Energy Programme. This grant is for research in Alternative Energy and is to be handled by Kwara State University Center for Ecological and Environmental Research Management Studies (CEERMS).Other centers of the University are; Center for African Oral Traditions, Institute for Asian Studies, Ibrahim Gambari Center for the Study of United Nations and Regional Organizations, Center for Pre-degree and Remedial Studies, Center for Human Rights and the law,Center for Modernity and Religion, Center for Art Preservation, Center for Sponsored Projects, Center for Innovation in Teaching and Research, Center for Innovative Technology, Center for Innovation and International Studies, Center for Bio-Computational Applications and the Center for Entrepreneurship.
Unique Features
The Center for Entrepreneurship is aimed at preparing its graduates to identify and recognize opportunities through appropriate re-orientation towards job creation. The university works with the students, while they are still in the university, to propose and implement a project. As the students graduate, the university partners with the students in implementing the various projects. It also created a start up fund that is accessible to student for this purpose.KWASU’s commitment to ensuring an international dimension to research, teaching and campus life is further demonstrated in its study abroad opportunities. The school offers the unique opportunity for their students to study abroad and earn credits from courses taken. While KWASU plans to expand its study abroad locations, it currently has a partnership with Thammasat University
Thammasat University
Thammasat University , or in brief TU , is Thailand's second oldest university. Officially established on 27 June 1934, the university was originally named by founder Pridi Banomyong, University of Moral Science and Politics , reflecting the political fervor of the time...
in Thailand.
Kwara State University is equally distinguished by its ability to attract and retain quality staff. Its teaching staff consists of eminent scholars such as Prof. Leo Daniels, MLK Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, (MIT) as Provost at the School of Engineering, Prof. Abiola Irele from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
as Provost at the College of Humanities, Management and Social Sciences; and Prof. Winston Wole Soboyejo
Winston Wole Soboyejo
Winston Wole Soboyejo is an American Scientist of Nigeria parentage , currently a Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University, with special interests in Material Science and Engineering...
from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
amongst others.