UNIZIK Expands Global Reach with Rwanda University Deal

Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, Vice-Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University; Dr. Chinenye Gloria Okeke, Registrar; and Prof. Charles Nwadigwe, Director of International Collaboration and Linkages, during the virtual signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Kigali Independent University, Rwanda.

Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kigali Independent University (ULK), Rwanda, to deepen institutional cooperation in teaching, research, innovation, staff development, and student exchange.
The partnership aligns with UNIZIK’s vision of expanding its global academic footprint through strategic international collaborations that promote excellence in teaching, research, innovation, capacity building, and knowledge exchange across Africa and beyond.
The agreement, which was drafted in April 2026 and signed virtually on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, establishes a comprehensive framework for collaboration between the two universities across key academic disciplines, including Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Education, Humanities, Management Sciences, and the Social Sciences.
The partnership is intended to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and best practices; strengthen academic, scientific, and cultural cooperation; and promote collaborative research that addresses contemporary regional and global challenges while contributing to sustainable development.
Under the terms of the MoU, both institutions will jointly organise international conferences, seminars, workshops, symposia, exhibitions, and short professional development courses in areas of mutual interest.
The agreement also provides for the exchange of scholarly publications, academic resources, and scientific information; joint authorship of research publications; curriculum development; and collaborative research projects designed to advance innovation and interdisciplinary scholarship.
Other key areas of collaboration include joint teaching and learning initiatives, cultural exchange programmes, staff development and capacity-building activities, the exchange of academic and administrative personnel, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate student exchange programmes.
The two institutions also agreed to collaborate in the joint supervision of Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) research, while holding periodic meetings to evaluate progress, strengthen existing initiatives, and identify new opportunities for academic cooperation.
To ensure effective implementation of the agreement, each university will appoint a designated MoU Coordinator to oversee, coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the execution of agreed activities. The collaboration will be guided by the strategic priorities and institutional needs of both universities, while safeguarding the intellectual property rights arising from jointly conducted research, innovation, and scholarly outputs.
The Memorandum of Understanding will remain in force for an initial period of five years, with the option of renewal by mutual consent. It also provides mechanisms for the amicable resolution of disputes and clarifies that the agreement does not create legally binding financial obligations for either institution. However, both universities may independently or jointly seek internal and external funding to support collaborative academic and research initiatives.
During the virtual signing ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, was joined by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Alex Asigbo; the Registrar, Dr. Chinenye Gloria Okeke; the University Librarian, Prof. Jacinta Eze; and the Director of International Collaboration and Linkages, Prof. Charles Nwadigwe.
In his remarks, Prof. Anyaehie presented an overview of UNIZIK’s academic programmes, campuses, research strengths, and affiliated institutions. He expressed confidence that the partnership with Kigali Independent University would yield mutual benefits by expanding opportunities for academic collaboration, research excellence, innovation, staff and student mobility, and knowledge production across the African continent and the global academic community.
The Vice-Chancellor of Kigali Independent University, Prof. Martins Onyekwelu Onuorah, signed the agreement on behalf of the Rwandan institution. Nnamdi Azikiwe University also affirmed its commitment to the successful implementation of the partnership by designating an institutional coordinator to drive the execution of the agreed areas of collaboration.
The Memorandum of Understanding represents another significant milestone in Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s internationalisation agenda and underscores the University’s unwavering commitment to building strategic global partnerships that strengthen teaching, research, innovation, capacity building, academic excellence, and international mobility for staff and students.