It was sheer excitement on Tuesday, July 15th, when the management of Nubian American Advanced College (NAAC), Lekki, Lagos, welcomed a high-powered delegation from Johnson C. Smith University (JSCU), USA.

The colourful event, tagged a “Welcome Reception”, was put together by NAAC in
honour of JSCU’s President, Dr. Valerie Kinloch, and to officially announce its partnership with the US-based university.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Jerome Griffin, President of NAAC, stated that the future of education in various countries, including the US, Canada and the continent of Africa, had been impacted by artificial intelligence technology and by technology as a whole

He stated that Nubian is seeking to create a relationship between historical black colleges and universities in America to ensure that students of both institutions are engaged to be able to understand and change some of the problems they would face in the future.

While noting that over 70 percent of the Nigerian population is under the age of 25, he stated that both universities in the partnership understand that the direction of the future and the world is to empower young people with the power to be able to change problems such as climate change, robotics and being able to educate a child in Abuja and another in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the same time.

Reacting to the challenges that might arise due to a bad network signal, considering that the advanced college pride itself with having llecturers all over the world and it’s student can receive lectures virtually, Dr. Griffin revealed that the Microsoft platform being used by NAAC ensures that their students, either in Nigeria or the United States and the faculty can all engage at the same time. Also, he stated that the institution is working to ensure that the standard in NAAC is at par with what is obtainable in the United States.

On her part, Dr. Kinloch noted that the collaboration is the beginning of a global partnership that is needed, adding that both institutions share the same passion about education.

Kinloch further stated that she is not only excited to support NAAC, but wants Nubian to also support the work they would do in collaboration with each other. She added that JSCU builds partnerships with others who have the same commitment to educating diverse people and educating across the globe.

Meanwhile, the Provost and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NAAC, Mr. Patrick Ida Oyinkari, revealed that Nubian is recognized and approved by the federal ministry of education for the federal government of Nigeria, and accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

According to him, NAAC runs a two-year program associated with the community college model in the US, which is akin to the associate degree granted in the United States. added that NAAC is walking into a community to ensure that no one is left without having something useful and meaningful to do in society.