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Teaching Hospital
The University of Nigeria is in the Enugu State town of Nsukka. It was
founded by Dr Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first president of Nigeria. It is the
first indigenous university in Nigeria.
Noted author Chinua Achebe has held research and teaching appointments at the
university since the early 1970s. Astronomer Samuel Ejikeme Okoye founded the
Space Research Center in 1972: the SRC remains one of the few institutions in
Africa that researches and offers courses in astronomy at both the undergraduate
and graduate levels.
The University has two campuses, in Nsukka (University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN)
and in Enugu (University of Nigeria Enugu campus, UNEC). UNEC houses the
Faculties of Medicine, Law, Business, Health Sciences and Environmental Studies.
UNN houses the Faculties of Agriculture, Arts, Biological Sciences, Education,
Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, and
Veterinary Medicine.
The medical school, in Enugu, has most of it activities in the University of
Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), also in Enugu. Here, doctors and other health
workers are trained with the highest standards and have proven over the years
that they can effect a significant positive change in Africa and indeed the
entire worlds' healthcare system. Doctors and indeed nurses trained in the
institution are seen all over the world contributing to the advancement of
medicine.
The College of Medicine carried out the first open heart surgery in sub-Saharan
Africa in 1974. It has since evolved into the center for cardiothoracic
excellence for the West Africa region. A lot of medical research is also being
carried out in the college. Most of the projects are nearing completion, but it
is pertinent to note that some too, have fallen short of completion due to lack
of finances and the Government's reluctance to fund private research.
Of recent a lot of work has emanated from the Department of Pharmacology where a
new agent against HIV was derived from a local plant source. Named "irab" the
new agent is thought to be a fusion inhibitor and studies in initial clinical
trials have shown astouding results.
UNN's current Vice Chancellor is Professor Chinedu O. Nebo (Professor of
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering)
Its motto is To Restore the Dignity of Man.
History
A law to establish a University in the Eastern Region of Nigeria was passed in
1955. While that date marks the formal beginning of the history of the
University of Nigeria, the enactment of this legislation was the culmination of
many years of thought and discussion by several Nigerian leaders, and inspired
particularly by the then Premier of the Eastern Region, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. One
of the first steps taken by the Eastern Nigeria Government towards the
implementation of its commitment was an invitation to both the United States of
America and the United Kingdom to send advisers to help in the planning of
physical and educational aspects of the proposed university.
Under the joint auspices of the Inter-University Council for Higher Education
and Overseas and the International Co-operation Administration (now the United
States Agency for International Development), J.W. Cook, Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Exeter, Dr John A. Hannah, President of Michigan State University
and Dr Glen L. Taggart, Dean of International Programmes at the same university,
came to Nigeria in 1958. The team surveyed the site at Nsukka, and extensively
investigated a great variety of factors pertinent to the establishment of a new
university. The results of their efforts were contained in a white paper issued
by the Eastern Nigeria Government on 30 November 1958. They had recommended
"that the development of the University of Nigeria based upon the concept of
service to problems and needs of Nigeria, is a desirable project and one that
should receive support from any source which could help to make it a sound
endeavour".
They further recommended that a provisional council be established to "draw upon
the technical and consultative resources available throughout the world for help
in planning the institution".
This provisional council, authorized by the Eastern Nigeria Legislature, was
appointed by the Governor in Council in April 1959, and given necessary
financial and administrative powers to build a sound university.
The provisional council reflected the spirit of international cooperation which
has given birth to the institution. It consisted of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chairman,
Dr T. Olawale Elias and Dr Okechukwu Ikejiani from the Federation of Nigeria,
J.S. Fulton from the United Kingdom, Dr Margueritue Cartwright and Dr Eldon Lee
Johnson from the United States of America.
The University was formally opened on 7 October 1960, as the climax to the
Nigerian independence celebrations in the Eastern Region. Her Royal Highness,
Princess Alexandra of Kent, representing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the
Nigerian independence celebrations, performed the opening ceremonies and laid
the foundation stone of one of the University's early buildings.
Classes began on 17 October 1960 with an enrolment of 220 students and 13
members of the academic staff. The opening convocation addresses were delivered
by the Chairman of the Provisional Council, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first
President of the Federation of Nigeria, and by Dr John A. Hannah, President of
Michigan State University, USA. Thus was the University born.
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