By Valentine Ezema
The United States Consulate General, Lagos office, Nigeria, on Friday, 25th March, 2022, visited Coal City University, Enugu. Led by the Public Affairs Officer, Stephen Ibelli, the delegation on arrival at the University campus, paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Afam Icha-Ituma. They briefed the Vice-Chancellor and the University Management Team, on their mission to the fast-rising university in Nigeria.
While briefing the Vice-Chancellor and the University Management Team, Stephen Ibelli, who came in company of the Consulate’s Exchange Program Coordinator, Clemson Ayegbusi, Coordinator of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Program at the U.S. Consulate, Austin Emeanua, and other officers of the Consulate, stated that they have come to establish a fruitful relationship between the University and the US Consulate. They also stated the Consulate’s interest in interacting with the students and staff of the University is to help the University community understand United States Government diplomacy policies and programmes in Nigeria. Mr. Ibelli pointed out that Nigerians in the US have done well and have enriched the US communities because of their enterprise spirit and good educational attainment. He also noted that United States values diversity, promotes integrity and transparency and abhors injustice. While applauding the University motto of education for self-actualization, he urged the students to embrace hard work and entrepreneurship in order to achieve self-actualization.
Welcoming the august visitors, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Afam Icha-Ituma, appreciated the delegation for visiting Coal City University and for the 2-day programme they developed for staff and students of the University. He explained that Coal City University is a globally focused university committed to providing quality education of international standards comparable to what is obtainable in top universities across the world. He informed the US consulate team that Coal City University has partnership agreements with Universities in the US and welcomes visiting professors and students from the US. He noted that the international partnerships enables the University to offer a wider range of internationally validated courses to CCU students and give them access to specialist facilities, lectures and enriching study-abroad programme with partner institutions in the US.
The Vice-Chancellor further pointed out that the US consulate visit will go some way to foster closer collaboration between Coal City University and US universities, in the areas of research, student and staff exchange, among others. He presented a souvenir, on behalf of the University community, to Stephen Ibelli to mark the Consulate’s visit to Coal City University. Mr. Ibelli reciprocated by presenting a souvenir from the Consulate to the Vice-Chancellor and key officers of the University.
During the 2-day visit, the US Consulate team met with staff and students of the University. The interactive session, which took place at the University’s multi-purpose auditorium, featured series of amazing events such as conversation with Stephen Ibelli, movie screening, film panel discussion and book donation to the library. The Consulate also presented special gift items to the students of Coal City University during the programme.
The memorable events were attended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dr. Sylvester Igwe, the Registrar, Dr. Mathias I. Odigbo (Rev. Fr), the University Bursar, Lady Njideka Ani, the University Librarian, Mrs Perpetua Ukwueze, key officers of the University and secondary school students from various parts of Enugu.
