From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has commended Hensard University for its broad vision of raising entrepreneurs through its academic programmes that are practical skills based, theoretical grounding, international exposure and linkages, and ethical leadership.
NDDC has declared that the entrepreneurship aspect is 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, who disclosed this when he 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.
Akakabota stated 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,”
“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,” he said.
He said Hensard’s vision and mission make it the type of institution the leadership of the NDDC would like to have as a partner to achieve the Commission’s mandate.
The Registrar of the University, Mrs. Evelyn Umukoro said Hensard offers great benefits that make it an excellent choice for students.
She noted that the university’s dual certification policy, allows students to earn two degrees – one from Hensard University and another from partner institutions which enhances their qualifications and expands their opportunities.
“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 meet the needs of some students who may not meet the minimum admission requirements set by the National Universities Commission (NUC).