Mexico Seeks Stronger Education Ties with Nigeria The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON, on Thursday, 6 June, 2013, received the Mexican Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Marco Antonio Garcia Blanco, who came to seek the strengthening of ties between both countries in the areas of education and cultural promotion. Mr. Blanco, who said he had been in Nigeria for a year, noted that Mexico had a philosophy of a world where there was collectivism and where human beings had mutual respect for one another, with the sole aim of engendering peace and security in a sustainable way. He stated that Mexico had found, in Nigeria, a willing ally, especially with both sharing similar philosophies and advancing same at the United Nations The Ambassador disclosed that his country established an Embassy in Nigeria because of its potential economic power in world affairs. He emphasised that, with Mexico being the 12th largest economy in the world, with about $2billion trading daily, both had a lot to share. According to him, the National Association of Universities and Institutions of Higher Education of Mexico AC (ANUIES) was a non-governmental, plural character institution that brought together both public and private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country and was formally established on 25 March, 1950, in the city of Hermosillo, Sonora. The Agency started with 26 universities, but currently had 175 universities and HEIs, of which 146 were public and 29 private, catering for up to 80 percent of students at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In his remarks, Professor Okojie acknowledged that there was a lot for both countries to share, as education and culture contributed significantly to promoting trade and economic activities in a country. NUC, he said, could learn best practices on how ANUIES had been able to address the challenges of illegal degree-awarding institutions and the best method of administering examinations. The Executive Secretary told the Ambassador that Nigerian students, who studied abroad, usually had their certificates sent to Nigerian Embassies in those countries for authentication, which had helped NUC to strengthen ties with them. He added that Nigeria was a coalition of multi-cultural, religious and ethnic groups, which had shaped its level of development. The NUC Scribe observed that, with the entire world moving towards the direction of largescale economic diversification, no country could be an island as there were mutual benefits and experiences to gain. He agreed with the Ambassador that the challenge rested on the universities to direct research studies in these fields, saying that Brazil had turned its economy around through such synergy with research institutions, with the manufacturing of an aircraft recently launched in France. Professor Okojie said when different countries bring what they have to the table and share with others it helps to build a world of mutual respect. He attributed the insecurity in the world systems to lack of good leadership and followership, concluding that education and cultural ties between nations would assist tremendously in bridging the gap. Both agreed that since they were busy officers, there was need to have Desk Officers, who would work out the details and identify areas of educational and cultural collaboration.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:11:07 +0000
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