Nigerian University President’s Visit 

The U. S. Department of State’s Office of International Visitors sponsored a 14 day Voluntary Visitor’s Project, entitled University Planning, Administration, and Management for the Republic of Nigeria. Southern University System was a few of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities that hosted fourteen Nigerian Universities Vice Chancellors that were part of the delegation. The Vice Chancellors visit was necessary because Universities and Colleges are an environment for the advancement of knowledge and service of humanity. In Nigeria, higher education is viewed as the greatest force that can be used to bring about change as well as the greatest investment that a nation can make for the quick development of its economic, political, sociological, and human resources. Vice Chancellors in Nigeria play a major role in assessing the needs analysis for establishing higher education. To assist in this effort, these chancellors which are equivalent to University Presidents in the U.S. were sponsored to achieve the following goals as articulated by the Department of State: 

ü      To examine the U.S. system of higher education, its structure, administration and support services;

ü      To explore the needs and responsibilities of higher education and its changing relationship with industry and other elements of society

ü      To study the financial challenges confronting institutions, faculty and students and support provided by alumni associations, corporate organizations, and the government;

ü      To develop and explore linkages with historically black colleges and universities. 

The program itinerary included visits to Washington DC, Chicago Illinois and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. During their visit to Southern University, Dr. Leon R. Tarver II, Southern University System President, Dr. Fred Humphries, President of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFFEO) based in Washington DC, Professor Peter A. Okebukola, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission Abuja, Nigeria, Dr. David Henson, President, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri and Dr. Ernest L. Holloway, President, Langston University, Langston, Oklahoma brought greetings. The activities included presentations by each Nigerian University Vice Chancellor on their respective Universities as well as the specific areas of needs and possible collaborations.  

At the luncheon, the System Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs along with Dr. Edward R. Jackson, Chancellor Baton Rouge Campus, Dr. Leodry Williams, Chancellor, Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Rtd. Judge Freddie Pitcher, Chancellor, Southern University Law Center, Dr. Press Robinson, Chancellor, New Orleans Campus and Mr. Donald Wade, National Alumni President and Mr. Curtis Lee, Executive Director, Southern University System Foundation make presentations about their respective campuses and areas of official responsibility.  

The august visitors whose visit was on the day of Nigeria Independence Anniversary was treated to a dinner at the University Place by Dr. Tarver. During the Dinner, the President urged all that was president to work together in preparing our youths to compete in the global economy through collaborations and partnerships. The Nigerian Vice Chancellors signed individual Memorandum of Agreement with Southern University System and another MOA with Southern University System and NAFFEO.