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  • ASUU faction dissociates from UniAbuja strike

    ASUU faction dissociates from UniAbuja strike

    A faction of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja branch, has dissociated itself from the strike action declared by the Union.

    The faction known as “Anti-Strike ASUU Members”, at a news conference, in Abuja, shortly, after the declaration of the strike by the ASUU chapter of the school on Thursday, said it would not join the strike.

    Recall that the ASUU branch of University of Abuja embarked on indefinite strike in the early hours of Thursday.

    Dr Abubakar Kari, the Dean of Students Affairs and former Convener, ASUU National Political Committee,  said the strike was to satisfy  personal interest, not the larger interest of ASUU members and the university.

    According to him, “Members of ASUU here standing for several other members with like minds but unavoidably absent, rise to reassure students, parents and members of the public that we will protect the sanctity of the University’s robust academic calendar.

    “We will continue to work for continuous opening of the university operations.

    “We vehemently demand that ASUU must work for ASUU and not a hidden cabal out to take the university of Abuja back to the inglorious yesteryears.

    “A decision to go on an indefinite strike without, at any point, seeking members of ASUU’s vote for, or against is absolutely not the ASUU procedure for calling strike.

    “So, the so-called strike remains unrepresentative of the larger members of ASUU and cannot stand”.

    Speaking on the alleged advertorial for the, about-to-be vacant position of the Vice chancellor, Kari said, so far, five federal universities had advertised for the position of Vice Chancellors.

    “The question begging the mind of everyone, staffers and the public is why would ASUU, university of Abuja alone proceed on indefinite strike while University of Maiduguri, Usman Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto, ATBU Bauchi and others sustain the sanctity of stable academic calendar on their campuses?

    “We say, No, to strike over issues that are not peculiar to the University of Abuja,” he said.

    The University of Abuja ASUU branch declared an indefinite strike to draw attention to developments bordering the union.

    The Chairman of the branch, Dr Sylvanus Ugoh, said the union had resolved to embark on a total and indefinite strike with immediate effect.

    He said the strike became necessary, given the University’s refusal to conduct elections for the office of the Dean’s of faculties and Provost College of Health Sciences.

    The Union also accused the University of carrying out promotion of some staffers without following due process.

    Other reasons for the strike, according to the Union include, “Advertorial of the vacancy of the post of Vice Chancellor without following due process, among others.

  • UniAbuja researchers win N3bn grant

    UniAbuja researchers win N3bn grant

    The University of Abuja (UniAbuja) says its researchers have won over N3 billion grants in 2023 following their applications to donor agencies for research grants.

    The Vice Chancellor, UniAbuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’allah, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the award ceremony for researchers and authors.

    Na’allah said that the 2023 grant of over N3 billion was a significant improvement compared to the N1 billion that was won in 2022.

    The vice-chancellor urged those leading in research to share their experiences with others, adding that they should support one another in order to bring in more researchers.

    “When you hear information on grant, share it around so more people can participate, this will help the university produce more grant winning researchers.

    “There is no world class university if there are no world scholars; we must continue to show this nation that a world class university is achievable and we have achieved it.

    “We have made over N3 billion in research grants this year; we are making a mark and we are determined as a university that whatever it will take we must move forward.’’

    He said there was need for scholars to invest in research because as they were the things needed to solve the problems facing the nation today.

    The vice chancellor urged more scholars to apply for grants.

    “What gives you joy as a scholar is research grants you get from outside; you have to keep working on getting a grant until you succeed,’’ he said.

    Na’allah called on scholars to think of how to solve the problems of Nigeria such as insecurity, bad leadership among others through their research work.

    He said that the university was taking the lead in resolving the problem of leadership, adding that the university would soon establish youth leadership clinic.

    He said that this clinic would help to train young people and prepare them to take over the leadership of Nigeria.

    The don assured the researchers that the university would not disappoint them as they continue to put the university on the map through this research grant.

    He advised authors to ensure that originality was their main focus, adding that they should be innovative and create new words in their works.

    Under the researchers’ cadre, seven persons won gold, two silver and 45 bronze while in the authors cadre, eight persons won gold, nine silver and 27 bronze.

    Earlier, the Director, UniAbuja Centre for Sponsored Projects (CSP), Prof. Obiageli Nnodu, said the centre was introduced in 2020 by the vice chancellor.

    Nnodu, while appreciating the vice chancellor, said that the centre which started small, had grown into something big.

    She said the researcher category was bringing extra income, adding that researcher income was adding significantly to the revenue of the university.

    One of the awardees, Dr Dike Orji, on behalf of other awardees, appreciated the vice chancellor and the university for their support to all scholars and researchers.

    Orji said the recipients would continue to put in their best to see that the university grew in terms of resear

  • Students to undertake drug test before admission – UniAbuja

    Students to undertake drug test before admission – UniAbuja

    Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’allah has disclosed that students who intend to study in the university must undertake and present a drug test before admission.

    Na’allah, who made this known at the 27th Pre- Convocation briefing in Abuja on Wednesday said the institution is working with NDLEA to help students involved in drug abuse and to rehabilitate them.

    He said drug status of students is important in order to help students to be free from drugs.

    Though he said the students would not be sent out from school if involved in drug abuse, but rather be rehabilitated in collaboration with the NDLEA.

    The vice chancellor also disclosed that 7,128 undergraduate students would be graduating at the school’s convocation slated for Saturday, on Oct. 7.

    He listed those that would be graduating to also include 100 PhDs, 326 academic Masters and 346 Professional Masters.

    He said 40 students would be graduating with First Class , 474 with Second Class Upper, 944 Second Class Lower, 174 with 3rd Class and One Pass degree.

    He, however, said the university had banned Pass degree going forward.

    He added that the university would also confer Honorary Doctorate Degree of Letters on Prof. Toyin Falola of the University of Texas, Houston for his role in the development and growth of the institution and other African universities at large.

    The vice chancellor also explained that the institution would be introducing Russia Language as part of the general courses that students must pass before graduating.

    This, he said is to make new knowledge available to students.

    “The university has developed into a global university with the offering of different languages, which include Japanese, French, Portuguese among others.

    “Efforts are though being made to bring in full some of the foreign languages as degrees programmes but the varsity has made it a compulsory in General Studies that every student must study and pass a foreign language before graduation.

    “We are going to offer Russia language in addition to the foreign languages we offer. Students are made to offer and pass one of these foreign languages,”he said.

    While noting the efforts made by the university to achieve its mandates, he said it has embarked on fund raising for alumni, philanthropists and also identifying foundations that would help in sponsoring researches, trainings and others.

    He also disclosed the National Universities Commission (NUC) had approved 26 new academic programmes for the university.

    According to him the university will now offer some of the new courses starting from 2023/2024 academic session.

    The courses include Nursing, Communication and Media Studies, Pharmacy, Tourism and hospitality, Agricultural engineering ,among others.

  • UNIABUJA, UNICAL, 3 other institutions unfit to produce engineering graduates- COREN

    UNIABUJA, UNICAL, 3 other institutions unfit to produce engineering graduates- COREN

    The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria has said that engineering programmes at the University of Abuja, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, and Ambrose Alli University, Edo State unaccredited and the institutions unfit to produce engineering graduates.

    Speaking at a press conference on the outcome of the council’s 179th ordinary meeting on Friday in Abuja, the Registrar of the council, Ademola Adisa, said that the five universities refused to update their licenses for various engineering courses since 2020.

    He said the University of Abuja FCT is running the expired courses in chemical engineering and civil engineering accreditation expired on 26/03/2020, while electronic engineering and mechanical engineering accreditation expired on 20/04/2022.

    According to him, Modibbo Adama University Yola’s agricultural engineering failed accreditation, while civil engineering, elect/elect engineering expired on 11/10/2020; adding that the chemical engineering and mechanical engineering both expired on 10/03/2021.

    He also said the University of Calabar in Cross River State and Technical University Ibadan, Oyo State, were running illegal engineering programmes that were not accredited by COREN.

    The registrar, who spoke on behalf of the council president, Sadiq Abubakar, said, “The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria in its commitment towards ensuring that engineering is regulated in Nigeria in line with global best practice to improve the quality of life and promote sustainable development, is hereby notifying the general public that; The following universities are running engineering programmes with expired accreditation status.”

    “Number one, at Modibbo Adama University located in Yola, Adamawa State, agricultural engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering and mechanical engineering have been run with failed and expired accreditation status since October 2020.

    “Also, at the University of Abuja, the accreditation of courses such as chemical engineering, civil engineering, electronics engineering, and mechanical engineering expired two years ago and no effort has been made to renew its licenses. Additionally, the University of Calabar and Technical University, Ibadan, Oyo State are running engineering programmes up to 300 level and 500 level respectively without resource verification and approval by COREN.”

    Ademola noted that the universities have been notified officially to rectify the abnormalities adding that failure to rectify their non-accreditation status will result in blacklisting them as non-accredited institutions whose graduates of engineering programmes will not be recognised for registration as engineering practitioners.

    The registrar explained that as a provisional signatory to the Washington Accord, the council must ensure quality assurance through the proper accreditation of engineering programmes in all tertiary institutions and maintain a register of qualified engineers to improve the quality of life and promote sustainable development in the country.

    He stated, “All five universities have been written officially to call for accreditation of their programmes which are currently illegal and they need to rectify the abnormalities but there had not been any positive response from any of them.”

    “Failure to rectify their non-accreditation status will result in blacklisting them as non-accredited institutions whose graduates of engineering programmes will not be recognized for registration as engineering practitioners.

    He further reminded all engineering practitioners to obtain their annual licenses for 2023 in compliance with Nigerian laws governing engineering practices or face sanctions.

     

  • UniAbuja ASUU protest unpaid salaries

    UniAbuja ASUU protest unpaid salaries

    The Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja branch, on Friday staged a peaceful protest at the institution’s Mini Campus over withheld salaries.

    The union members staged the protest following the ‘No Work No Pay’ policy and court order that mandated the lecturers back to classes.

    The ASUU branch Chairman, Dr Kassim Umaru, during the protest said that decision reached immediately after its congress called on well meaning Nigerians to urge the Federal Government to honour the union’s demands.

    Umaru said that university lecturers were not casual staffers and could not be paid half salary, adding that the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU would decide on an action if the government failed to address the issues.

    He called on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, to honour agreement reached with the union, adding that the union was forced to the classroom through a court injunction.

    “We are here this afternoon to show our displeasure to the Federal Government that it is not all over by forcing us through court injunction ànd intimidating us by holding our salaries.

    “We are not going to give up untill the Federal Government do the needful by paying our withdrew salaries and also honouring the agreement signed in 2020.

    “The government has signed several agreements with our union, not once, not twice, not three times, but refused to honour the agreement.

    “We are telling the public, traditional rulers, religious leaders, well meaning Nigerians, students and parents that all is not well in the Nigerian universities,” he said.

    The chairman said that the people should pressure the government to do the needful by honouring the agreement and paying their salaries.

    He stressed that lecturers were not casual workers and should be paid.

    ”We are frustrated and we can no longer take it, enough is enough and we are not going to give up.

    “We are not going to take it and we are registering our displeasure that Nigerians should know that anything that happens, ASUU should not be called for anything.

    “The speaker has intervened and we have given him the honour, but the Federal Government should do what it has said.

    “If the Federal Government is adamant, the NEC of the union will go back to drawing board, access all the issues and we will take the necessary action,” he threatened.

  • UNIOSUN VC, Prof. Adebooye blast ASUU president over ‘quack’ comment on state universities

    UNIOSUN VC, Prof. Adebooye blast ASUU president over ‘quack’ comment on state universities

    Professor of Plant Physiology/Food Chemistry and the Vice-Chancellor, Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Odunayo Clement Adebooye has reacted to comments from the president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Emmanuel Osodeke.

    Adebooye dismissed the comment from Osodeke saying state Universities are quacks as unbecoming of a professor.

    The UNIOSUN VC described Osodeke as a careless talker who should get educated.

    Professor Adebooye said the state university has 481 full-time academic staff and among them, 387 are full-time PhD holders, “this is not a quack.”

    TheNewsGuru.com had earlier reported that ASUU president, Professor Osodeke described State Universities as quacks

    Read Also:

    https://thenewsguru.ng/nigeria-news/asuu-president-prof-osodeke-roars-says-state-universities-are-quacks/

    Recall that Osodeke while featuring on Arise TV’s ‘The Morning Show on Friday, called state universities; including  Osun State University, Kwara State University, Lagos State University and Kwara State University quacks.

    He said “Kwara State University is not a member of ASUU. Osun State University was suspended from ASUU for misbehaviour. We are in court with LASU (Lagos State University) because they sacked all our executives more than five years ago. They were not part of this struggle.”

    The UNIOSUN Vice-Chancellor responded to ASUU’s claim while answering questions from journalists at a press conference on Friday; announcing the approval and accreditation of the institution’s bachelor of medicine bachelor of surgery (MBBS) programme by the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council (NMDC).

    It will be recalled that UNIOSUN started the MBBS programme with the approval of the National Universities Commission in 2012. The programme was discontinued shortly after due to some operational challenges which led to the transfer of the enrolled students to Ukraine by the State Government to complete their programmes.

    Adeboye posited that UNIOSUN is a world-class university that boasts good educational facilities.

    He said “Between January and August 2022, our academic members of staff have demonstrated the “can do spirit” in research and they have excelled in this world of stiff but healthy competition for research grants. I am glad to inform you we have six grants amounting to about US$300,000 in the last 8 months,” he said this in his address during.

    Meanwhile, while reacting to the ASUU president’s statement, the Vice-Chancellor said Osun state university takes very serious exceptions for having mentioned the institution as a quack university and demanded the withdrawal of the statement from Professor Osodeke.

    According to him, the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUA), where the ASUU President teaches, does not have UNIOSUN’s achievements.

    “ASUU President should go and check my profile, I cannot preside on the quack university. He has expressed his opinion and that is his, the University he teaches does not have our achievements.

    “He was here this year and commended the quality of what he saw here, the infrastructure, only a few universities. Osun state university takes very serious exceptions for having mentioned the institution as a quack university.

    “He shouldn’t talk about what he doesn’t know if he wants to continue being a true professor. A true professor finds facts and bases of whatever they say, he should get educated, I challenge him to get educated.

    “Referring UNIOSUN as a quack university is a careless statement and not expected from ASUU President who is a professor; who must not make a statement without facts.” the VC said.

    The National Executive Council of ASUU will meet at Uniabuja on Sunday to deliberate on whether to call off the strike or not.

  • UniAbuja U.S. alumni President appeals for support from members

    The President and Founder of the University of Abuja Alumni, United States (U.S.), Mrs Ekeleoma Chuku, has appealed to all the graduates of the university in the USA for support.

    Chuku, who made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in New York, said the association was about giving back to society.

    Chuku spoke to newsmen after the association had hosted the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, in the U.S. to discuss progress in mobilising support for the university.

    “I’m reaching out to all the alumni in the U.S. to come and join us in the vision we have. It is all about reaching out to our alma mater.

    “We know the situation in the university when we were schooling, so we should not pretend that it is rosy; if we had a better learning environment, better infrastructure, classrooms, we would have done better.

    “We don’t want those coming behind us to suffer the same things we suffered when we were at the university,” she said.

    According to her, the passion to give back to the institution where she did her first degree, Post-Graduate Diploma (PDG) and master’s degree, made her establish the association in the U.S.

    The president said the educational system in America motivated her to see how she could improve on her alma mater by canvassing and looking for donations to support the educational environment and resources of the university.

    “We are reaching out to organisations that partner with universities to give support to our objectives, which is giving out scholarships to indigent students.

    “We also want to help in infrastructural development such as building lecture halls, hostels and other infrastructure that are lacking in the university.

    “We have plans on the ground to reach out to donor agencies, who do charity works; it’s about giving back and helping humanity and that is the drive of everything that is going on today in the U.S,” she said.

    Chuku, however, commended the vice-chancellor, who is a proactive administrator, for keying into the objectives of the association.

    She said Na’Allah had bought into the association’s ideas because it tallied with his objectives too, to enhance the learning environment in the University of Abuja.

    “We are partnering with King Baudouin Foundation and other organisations in the U.S. to see ways of harnessing opportunities that abound in the U.S. to help in reaching out to the university.

    “We want to harness the opportunities so that they (students at the University of Abuja) can have a better environment to compete globally. We are happy that we made steps to achieve success in that direction,” she said.

    According to her, King Baudouin Foundation has made a commitment by helping to harness these opportunities, and by helping to reach out to other agencies for partnerships.

    The president said the foundation would help the association source for some of these organisations that would help the alumni, noting that the foundation had been in the business of supporting alumni all over the world.

    “We believe because they have achieved success with other alumni, it’s going to achieve success with us.

    “This is a giant step we have made with the presence of our vice-chancellor in the U.S to support our course,” she said.

  • Sex-for-marks: UniAbuja dismisses 2 professors

    The Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na-Allah, says the institution has gone tough on lecturers sexually harassing students, as two professors had been dismissed for the offence.

    Na’Allah told NAN on Monday in New York that the university had introduced a policy on sex abuse on campus, which had been published.

    Na-Allah, who was on a two–day visit to the U.S., to meet with the University of Abuja Alumni Association, USA chapter, to solicit support for the institution, said, ”female students needed to be protected.”

    According to him, the institution is committed to high moral standards and will not tolerate any act of misconduct perpetrated by its staff against students.

    “I have dismissed two professors since I became the vice- chancellor. It tells you how we are serious about the issue of sexual harassment.

    “We are collaborating with some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), to make sure that it is not only us that are addressing this issue, but we have a strong partnership.

    “We cannot allow the lives of our students to be destroyed, because most of the abuses destroy the lives of their victims.’’

    The vice-chancellor said: ”it was sad to see some lecturers, who are supposed to be protecting the female students, becoming one of their problems.

    “This a problem of universities in Nigeria, not only University of Abuja alone.

    “But UniAbuja is pursuing it with vigour, because, we know this is one of the issues to address to make our university one of the best in Nigeria.

    “As I speak now, there are several investigations ongoing by a committee set up, addressing the problem,’’ Na-Allah said

    The VC said that the university was working round the clock to make sure the institution become number one in Nigeria, adding that ”the best way is to improve on academics of the student.

    “We are trying to provide all the facilities that the students need, for instance, the smart classrooms, internet facilities on campus and other areas.’’

    Na-Allah further said that the Centre for Distance Learning (CDL), in the university was among the best in Nigeria, adding that Nigerians in diaspora could take programmes anywhere in the world from the centre virtually.

    “People from everywhere in the world are students from first degree up to PhD level at the CDL. Things are easier now; you can even do your defense on zoom.

    “We have created a virtual classroom system and we are working with the National University Commission (NUC), to see that its policies are reversed in such a way to support virtual system.

    “We are collaborating with the University of Arizona, U.S, because it has a large virtual system and we are exploring relationship for online programmes with the university,’’ he said.

    The University of Abuja is a tertiary institution in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, established in January 1988, as a dual-mode University, with the mandate to run conventional and distance learning programmes.

  • UniAbuja signs MoU with Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission

    UniAbuja signs MoU with Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission

    The University of Abuja, FCT, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission as part of efforts to advance development of nuclear energy in the country.

    The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, who made this known during the signing of the MoU at the University, on Wednesday said it would also enhance research and atomic physics studies.

    Na’Allah said students of the institution would soon take degrees to PhD level in nuclear energy for the development of the country.

    According to him, the university is committed to the development of national goals in science and technology as well as making manpower readily available for industrial development.

    He described the development as a new dawn for Nigeria in addressing its energy challenges through the development of the necessary manpower with research and innovation.

    “Most of the crises of development in the country are attached to the crisis of energy, if you resolve the problems of energy, most problems are resolved.

    “The way that nuclear energy has helped humanity positively, if we had explored that in this nation, we would have been at a level that is comparable to many nations of the world and our effort today is to say better late than never.

    “The University of Abuja, and the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission is standing up to take this very seriously to ensure that we begin to succeed.

    “Our concern is mostly on the safety use of atomic energy, to benefit lives and growth of our nation,” he said.

    The Chairman of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, Prof. Yusuf Ahmed, on his part said nuclear technology centre would be located within the university premises due to its geographical advantage.

    Ahmed said the commission had been fully affiliated to the University of Abuja to run undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Nuclear Science and Engineering.

    He said the university would use the laboratories and equipment at the nuclear centre for the purpose of developing human capital for the country and promotion of nuclear energy and programmes.

    He explained that the Energy Commission had six centres in each geo-political zones affiliated to a federal university where research, innovation and technology was being developed for capacity building, manpower training and educational activities.

    The Director of Energy Research Centre, University of Abuja, Dr Kafayat Adeyemi, said the centre would develop manpower to construct nuclear installations for generating electricity, and undertake research into matters relating to the use of atomic energy.

  • UNIABUJA seeks NASENI’S assistance on establishment of Reverse Engineering and Innovation Centre on Campus

    UNIABUJA seeks NASENI’S assistance on establishment of Reverse Engineering and Innovation Centre on Campus

    The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), and the University of Abuja has agreed to establish a Centre of Excellence in Reverse Engineering and Innovation that will lead to the creation of indigenous engineering designs capacity and manufacturing to meet the challenges of improving the nation’s local industries.
    The Center when established is expected to help Nigeria conserve foreign exchange spending resulting from her dependence on importation and to cut down capital flights while creating employment opportunities thus raising the standard of living of the general population.
    The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah presented the request to Executive Vice Chairman/CE, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna today in Abuja. The Vice-Chancellor led the University management team on a courtesy visit to NASENI Headquarters where he disclosed that the visit was aimed at renewing the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organizations which were signed in 2014.
    According to him, the proposed centre will also provide manufacturing value-added processes that would lead to employment generation, thus raising the standard of living. “It will lead to the much-desired university-industry linkages which hopefully would revolutionize industrial development of Nigeria,” he said.
    As contained in the proposal by the University, NASENI staff would easily work with the university as joint research staff on many fronts as the centre of Excellence would be located within the University campus to be managed through collaborative efforts by the two organizations. “It will focus amongst others on furnace manufacturing, energy and power equipment, miscellaneous components and devices and systems, and many more”
    In the same vein, Major General Charles Ofoche, Chief of Transformation and Innovation Center of the Nigerian Army led another delegation on behalf of the Nigeria Chief of Army Staff Lt.General Farouk Yahaya on a courtesy visit to NASENI to revive all existing working collaborations between the Agency and the Nigerian Army especially in specific areas of innovation, research and development (R&Ds).
    He said with R&Ds, Nigeria could begin the manufacturing of machines and spare parts using its indigenous resources (human and material resources) as the nation could no longer continue to consume imported finished products, adding that, it is wasteful and lack of diligent exploration citizen’s creative minds and innovation which had kept Nigeria where it is today.
    “Until we started producing all the critical machines and spare parts which Nigeria needs up to 80%, we will not meet up with global standard and trends or competitiveness. We need to be competitive in everything we do.”
    He, however, commended NASENI’s efforts in promoting the development of science, technology and innovation in Nigeria, adding that, collaborating with the Agency would enable the two parties to nurture the nation’s vast natural resources.
    “R&D is the way to go and with Army applications, we can defeat the bad people and make Nigeria better” he stressed.
    In his response, the EVC/CE of NASENI, said the Agency was ready to work with the University of Abuja in establishing the Center of Excellence in reverse engineering and innovation. He said such a move was within the mandate of the Agency, even as he assured both the Army and the VC, Uniabuja of the readiness of the Agency to work with them in promoting the importance of R&Ds in the development of the nation’s economy.