Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, also called UNIZIK or NAU in short is a
federal university
A collegiate university is a university in which functions are divided between a central administration and a number of constituent colleges. Historically, the first collegiate university was the University of Paris and its first college was the C ...
in
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
. It consists of two campuses in
Anambra State
Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. The state was created on August 27, 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State ...
.
Its main campus is in
Awka
Awka () is the capital city of Anambra State, Nigeria. The city was declared capital on 21 August 1991, after the creation of Anambra and Enugu state, which moved the capital from Enugu to Awka (an administrative center since pre.-colonial times). ...
(the capital of Anambra State), while its other campus is in
Nnewi
Nnewi is a commercial and industrial city in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria. It is the second largest and second most populous city in the southern part of the country. Nnewi as a metropolis has one local government area, which is Nnewi Nort ...
. There are also other campuses of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. These include
Agulu
Agulu is a large town in Anambra State, Nigeria. It is located in Anaocha Local Government Area. Agulu is under the Anambra Central Senatorial District. It is home to the Agulu Lake. Agulu community has prominent men and women in politics, indus ...
in Aniocha local government area and
Ifite-Ogwuari in Ayamelum local government area in
Anambra State
Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. The state was created on August 27, 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State ...
. This makes Nnamdi Azikiwe University to operate in the three Senatorial Districts in
Anambra State
Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. The state was created on August 27, 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State ...
, Nigeria having Awka campus, in
Anambra Central Senatorial District
Anambra Central Senatorial District in Anambra State is one of the three Senatorial Districts in the State. It has seven local governments areas. These are: Awka North, Awka South, Njikoka, Anaocha, Idemili North, Idemili South and Dunukofia. There ...
, Nnewi in
Anambra North Senatorial District and Ifite-Ogwuari in
Anambra North Senatorial District, respectively. These campuses have libraries and information services that serve the students, academic and non-academic staff. It is one of the federal universities which are overseen and accredited by the
National Universities Commission
The National Universities Commission (NUC) is a government commission for promoting quality higher education in Nigeria. Situated in Abuja, it was established in 1962 as an advisory agency in the cabinet office. In 1974, it became a statutory b ...
. The university is named after late
Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.
The academic staff of the university belong to
Academic Staff Union of Universities
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is a Nigerian union of university academic staff, founded in 1978. ASUU is an offshoot of the Nigerian Association of University Teachers (NAUT) which was established in 1965. At that time, NAUT con ...
(ASUU). The staff union is known to grant scholarship to indigent students just like other philanthropists. It has a total population of about 34,000 students.
History
Nnamdi Azikiwe University came into being as an offshoot of the defunct Anambra State University of Technology (ASUTECH). ASUTECH which was established through Law No. 7 of 30 July 1980 by the Government of the old Anambra that operated as a multi-campus university, with campuses in
Abakiliki,
Enugu, Awka and Nnewi.
In 1991, following the split of the old Anambra State into Anambra and
Enugu States, the Awka and Nnewi campuses of the former ASUTECH were constituted into Nnamdi Azikiwe University by the Anambra State Edict No.5 26 November 1991. Nnamdi Azikiwe University was taken over by the Federal Government by Decree No. 34 on 15 July 1992.
In 1991, after the former Anambra State was split into Anambra and Enugu States, the Awka and Nnewi campuses of the former Anambra State University of Technology (ASUTECH) were combined into Nnamdi Azikiwe University, which was later taken over by Federal government. The university is named after Dr.
Nnamdi Azikiwe
Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe, (16 November 1904 – 11 May 1996), usually referred to as "Zik", was a Nigerian statesman and political leader who served as the first President of Nigeria from 1963 to 1966. Considered a driving force behind the ...
, the first president of Nigeria. The Awka Campus became Nnamdi Azikiwe University. In 1992, the Federal Government of Nigeria took over the university from Anambra State. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, thus, became a Federal University.
Location
The main campus of the university is located along
Onitsha – Enugu Expressway, Awka, while the second campus is at
Nnewi
Nnewi is a commercial and industrial city in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria. It is the second largest and second most populous city in the southern part of the country. Nnewi as a metropolis has one local government area, which is Nnewi Nort ...
(NAUTH and Okofia) and the third campus is at
Agulu
Agulu is a large town in Anambra State, Nigeria. It is located in Anaocha Local Government Area. Agulu is under the Anambra Central Senatorial District. It is home to the Agulu Lake. Agulu community has prominent men and women in politics, indus ...
(Faculty of Pharmacy).
Library
The University Library in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria is named - Professor Festus Aghagbo Nwako Library. It is located on the main campus at the permanent site in Awka, the capital of Anambra State. However, there are libraries on the other campuses in Nnewi and Agulu. These libraries are managed by librarians and have internet availability and accessibility.
They have the sole responsibility of making information resources and facilities accessible to the students, staff, other institutions, and all the members of the academic community. The University library facilities are used for other activities by members of the academic community like cultural festivals. In 2020, the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Professor
Charles Esimone
Charles Okechukwu Esimone (born 31 December 1970) is a Nigerian professor of biopharmaceutics and pharmaceutical biotechnology who currently serves as the vice-chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria. He is the first professor of ...
upgraded the internet bandwidth to internet 3-STM-1 which improved the library and information access in Awka campus, Agulu campus and Nnewi Teaching hospital, respectively.
The Medical Library in Nnewi Campus is for the College of Health Sciences of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. It is a connection of three libraries which are the Main Library the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, the Pre-Clinical Campus at Okofia also in Nnewi and the Diagnostic and Healthcare Centre at Neni in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The medical library started operations with a small collection in 1986 when it was formerly Anambra State University of Technology (ASUTECH) before the creation of the new Anambra State in 1991. It became a full medical library that serve medical students, teaching staff, medical and paramedical personnel, and other health practitioners in 1992 in a temporary building. The library was relocated in the year 2000 to a Medical Library Complex in the teaching hospital. Then, it had18,547 books and 568 journal titles which provided literature and other information-related resources.
The library creates awareness, provides physical and e-resources and services to the users. There are also provision of current awareness services, references, databases, reprographic services, Selective Dissemination of Information, Document Delivery Services, online customer services and document delivery services.
The Medical Library of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka has benefitted from individuals and organizations who donated information resources. These have increased the collection of medical libraries.
The libraries in Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Nnew and Agulu still face challenges in delivering effective and efficient services. These include, difficulty in accessing resources, computer hanging, erratic power supply, inadequate financial support and low ICT literacy.
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)
ASUU is the umbrella that holds all the academic staff in the government universities in Nigeria. It has influence over the tertiary educational system in Nigeria. However, the Unizik Chapter of the Academic Union of Universities (ASUU) has been impacting indigent students' lives in ensuring that those students do not drop out of school. In 2019/2020 academic session, 30 indigent students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, were selected from different faculties in the university. They benefited from N1.5million scholarship awards by the members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the institution. Each beneficiary was given N50,000 each to help in sustaining them in the institution. The ASUU NAU branch was revived in 2012. Prof Ike Odimegwu was the first ASUU NAU branch chairman after the inauguration in 2012.
Notable alumni
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Ijeoma Grace Agu
Ijeoma Grace Agu is a Nigerian actress. She received a best supporting actress nomination at the 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards. She also won most promising actress at the 2014 Best of Nollywood Awards. In 2007, she made her first screen app ...
, Nigerian actress.
*
Rita Edochie
Rita Edochie (born 16 April 1964) is a Nigerian film actress.
Early life and education
Edochie is Igbo. In 2016 she revealed that she was sexually assaulted in primary school and gave birth to a child.
Career
In 2016, she received the Ambassador ...
, Nigerian veteran actress.
*
Uche Ekwunife
Uche Lilian Ekwunife (née Ogudebe born 12 January 1970), is a Nigerian politician, and member of the 9th Nigerian Senate representing the people of Anambra Central Senatorial District of Anambra State and she is known as one of the most active f ...
, Nigerian politician.
*
Ochuko Emuakpeje
Ochuko Raphael Emuakpeje (born September 16, 1983) is a Nigerian Chess Player. He is a two-time former Nigeria National Chess Champion: He won the Nigeria National Chess Championship in
2010 and 2015. Ochuko hails from Delta State, Nigeria. Ochu ...
Nigerian chess player
*
Destiny Etiko
Destiny Etiko (born 12 August 1989) is a Nigerian actress.
Early life and education
Etiko was born in Udi, a village in Enugu State, Nigeria. She received both her primary and secondary school education in Enugu State. She obtained a tertiary ...
, Nigerian actress.
*
Mike Ezuruonye
Mike Ezuruonye (born 21 September 1982), is a Nigerian actor.
Early life and career
Mike is from Uzuakoli in Abia State, Nigeria. He was born on 21 September 1981 in Lagos. He attended the Federal Government College, Wukari, Taraba and Archbi ...
, Nigerian actor., Professor of Laws
*
Ebube Nwagbo
Ebube Nwagbo is a Nigerian actress and an entrepreneur
Personal life
Nwagbo is from Umuchu, a town in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, Eastern Nigeria but grew up in Warri in Delta State. She is first of her parents six childre ...
, Nigerian actress
*
Queen Nwokoye
Queen Nwokoye (born 11 August 1982) is a Nigerian actress. She is best known for starring as the lead character in a 2014 film titled '' Chetanna'' which earned her a "Best Actress" nomination at the 11th Africa Movie Academy Awards.
Early li ...
, Nigerian actress
*
Oge Okoye
Oge Okoye ( born 16 November 1980) is a Nigerian actress from Nnewi in Anambra State. Oge Okoye was born in London, and later moved to live in Lagos with her family. She completed her primary school in London before moving to Nigeria. Upon ret ...
, Nigerian actress
*
Francisca Oladipo, Nigerian computer scientist
*
Rita Orji
Rita Orji is a Nigerian-Canadian computer scientist who is a Canada Research Chair in Persuasive Technology and the Director of the Persuasive Computing Lab at Dalhousie University. Her work is in the area of human–computer interaction with a m ...
, Nigerian-Canadian Professor,
Canada Research Chair
Canada Research Chair (CRC) is a title given to certain Canadian university research professors by the Canada Research Chairs Program.
Program goals
The Canada Research Chair program was established in 2000 as a part of the Government of Canada ...
, Top 150 Canadian Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)., Member of
Royal Society of Canada, Member of
Global Young Academy
The Global Young Academy is an international society of young scientists, aiming to give a voice to young scientists across the globe....
Membership strength is capped at 200, and the membership tenure is 5 years.
Organization and membership
Th ...
, Top 100 Canada's Most Powerful Women
Faculties and population
The university has a population of 24,706 for the regular students and 12,476 students for the part-time programme' students during the 2004/2005 academic year.
UNIZIK has a total of 14 faculties and 57 departments. The university has the following faculties:
1. Faculty of Agriculture: 3000 students
2. Faculty of Arts: 3000 students
3. Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences: 2000 students
4. Faculty of Biosciences
5. Faculty of Education: 5000 students
6. Faculty of Engineering: 4000 students
7. Faculty of Environmental Sciences
8. Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology
9. Faculty of Law: 2000 students
10. Faculty of Management Sciences
11. Faculty of Medicine
12. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
13. Faculty of Physical Sciences
14. Faculty of Social Sciences: 3000 students
References
External links
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Universities and colleges in Nigeria
Education in Anambra State
Educational institutions established in 1991
Public universities in Nigeria
1991 establishments in Nigeria