Coal City University reaffirms commitment to career-driven, entrepreneurial education and development.

The Vice Chancellor, Coal City University (CCU), Enugu, Prof. Afam Icha Ituma has reaffirmed the varsity’s strong commitment to delivering a transformative education model focused on career development, entrepreneurship, and innovation, in alignment with its mission to produce globally competitive graduates who are not only employable but also entrepreneurial leaders.

Disclosing this while receiving a delegation from the University of Lancaster, United Kingdom led by the International Director of Research Prof. Kirk Semple and Dr. Akanimo Odon the Director, Internationalisation and Partnership for Africa who paid him a courtesy visit, he emphasized that CCU is fully focused on bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world application.

The delegation was in Enugu to facilitate the  introduction of a project named – Enhanced Approach to Career and Entrepreneurship Training in Universities across Nigeria, a  programme co-organised and supported by UK FCDO, Lancaster University UK, the British Council, and the National Universities Commission. Coal City University was among the only two universities selected for the project in South East.

The project was designed to bridge the huge gap between the academia and industry expectations, as well as improve graduate employability. To achieve this purpose, two programmes were conceived and will be delivered concurrently to drive the process. They are: Stimulating Sustainable Entrepreneurial Thinking in Scientists (SSETS) for staff and researchers, and the International Career Coaching Programme (ICCP) for students in universities. These programmes were developed by Lancaster University and its African partners through a series of funding regimes by the UK Government and the British Council.

He described the university’s strategy as “education with purpose,” stressing the institution’s drive to equip students with skills that match the dynamic demands of the 21st-century workforce. According to the erudite professor “ At Coal City University, we believe that higher education must go beyond theory. We are building a generation of graduates who think critically, solve problems, start businesses, and lead with innovation. Our commitment is not just to academics, but to the total transformation of every student who walks through our gates,” the Vice Chancellor stated.

In his address, the leader of the delegation Prof. Kirk Semple commended the university for standing out as a dynamic and ambitious institution. “We are here to deepen collaboration with CCU and hopes the relationship grows stronger from this first phase to the next,” he stated.

The Vice Chancellor also used the opportunity to welcome and appreciated the team on behalf of the board, management, staff and students. He commended the University of Lancaster for her strong footprint in delivering quality education in Africa and expressed joy that CCU was among the two institutions selected in South East as partners with University of Lancaster in the project.

Prof. Ituma said the university is also expanding its partnerships with industry experts, development agencies, and tech hubs to ensure students gain exposure to global trends in business, technology, and social enterprise.

While welcoming the idea to partner with University of Lancaster , he said that the project aligns with CCU’s focus to produce globally employable graduates by leveraging on the experiences of industry professionals as faculty members. This he said, enhances the future competitiveness of the students in the labour market after graduation.

The Vice Chancellor assured the team of CCU’s unflinching collaboration and commended Akanimo Odon for being a worthy ambassador of Nigeria at the University of Lancaster.  He thanked Okechukwu Chukwuemeka, Director, Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies at CCU for excellent facilitation of the project. “We are very willing and keen to exploring possibilities and more collaboration with University of Lancaster, UK. It will be good for our school to work closely with you on sabbaticals and create opportunity for students programme exchange and short school visitations,” Prof. Ituma stated.

The visit had two interactive sessions with the staff and students. The staff session dwelt on Stimulating Sustainable Entrepreneurial Thinking in Scientists (SSETS) for staff and researchers while that of the students centred on the International Career Coaching Programme (ICCP) for students in universities.

The project begins in July 2025 with extensive training sessions of selected 100 students and 50 academics as participants who in turn will own and drive the project for sustainability.

About Coal City University

Coal City University is a private, forward-thinking institution located in Enugu, Nigeria. Committed to excellence in education, innovation, and ethical leadership, the university offers a broad spectrum of academic programs grounded in strong values, career readiness, and community development.