FUNAI/French Partnership: First Batch of Staff Leave for France
The academic partnership between the French Government and the Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State has started yielding fruits as the first batch of the University staff selected for post-graduate studies is set to depart for France on 14th November, 2017.
The scholarship collaboration initiated and consummated by the University Management under the leadership of Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba would see about 35 of its academic staff leaving for further studies at Ivy League Universities in France.
Presenting ten of the successful candidates to the Vice Chancellor before their departure to France, the Coordinator of the French/FUNAI Collaboration, Dr. Nnena Nwosu noted that they were carefully selected, adding that the staff were billed to study at renowned French Universities.


She expressed her gratitude to the University Management for its commitment towards the realization of the goals of the partnership and equally praised the French Government and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for making the scholarship scheme a success.
Bidding the staff farewell at his office, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nwajiuba admonished them to be good ambassadors of the University during their stay in France, urging them to eschew actions that are capable of tarnishing the image of the University.


“Be cautious of the image of the University. You have to go the extra miles to prove yourself
“Be wary of plagiarism, cheating, copying because these vices do not exist in that part of the world”, he stated.
The Vice Chancellor further stressed the importance of decorum, humility, ethics and good conduct in the quest for academic success in Europe, urging them to establish enduring relationships with citizens of their host country.
“There are many more benefits to be derived from the French collaboration, so do not burn the bridge because of other staff coming after you”, he cautioned.

Lending credence to the benefits of the collaboration, the Director of the Centre for Internationalization, Linkages, Advancement and Global Ranking, Dr. Afam Icha-Ituma thanked the Vice Chancellor for seeing the idea through, noting that the scheme would help in making the University a world-class center of learning, teaching and research.
He further urged the beneficiaries to bring back to the University good stories of their academic exploits in Europe even as he also charged them to be good ambassadors of both the institution and Nigeria.
“Be cautious of the fact that you are now ambassadors of FUNAI and Nigeria”, he stated.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Miss Cecil Azuama thanked the University Management for the life-time opportunity to study abroad, assuring that they would seize the opportunity with both hands and be good representatives of the University in France.
The next set of beneficiaries for the FUNAI/French scholarship programme will be leaving the shores of Nigeria by February, 2018.