A letter of intent has been signed by the Niger State government and management of Kent State University, Ohio, United States of America, for a start-up location for its centre at the Abdulkadir Kure University (AKU) Minna.

A statement by the chief press secretary to the governor, Bologi Ibrahim, yesterday said the move was a build-up to the earlier Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a transformational impact on the educational sector in the state and to foster intellectual and cultural exchange among others.

He said the provost of Kent State University Ohio signed for the institution while the commissioner for budget and planning, Mustapha Ndajiwo who led the state’s delegation to Ohio, signed on behalf of the state government.

“The centre which would be launched in no distant future will oversee several programmes including a two-plus-two degree initiative, where undergraduates from Niger State can do the first two years of their studies in Nigeria and complete the remaining two years in the United States at half the tuition cost.

“Also, students would have the option to study fully online from Nigeria and obtain either a U.S. degree or a dual degree in addition to some areas of collaboration which include executive and leadership programmes, aviation studies, vocational skills’ development, fashion, sports and investment opportunities” the statement added.

LEADERSHIP