In a landmark moment that marks Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University’s growing presence on the global academic stage, the University has jointly began the implementation of its first-ever European Union (EU) research grant , a €400,000 award under the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education programme, with the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. This achievement is a major step forward in COOU’s journey towards internationalisation and academic excellence and comes under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha, FNIPR. Her 3Vs Agenda of Values, Viability, and Visibility has continued to open new doors of global partnerships, one of which is the University’s entry into the Erasmus+ platform.
The winning project, titled Enhancing Employability of Accounting Graduates in Uganda and Nigeria by Integrating Employability Skills into Accounting Education using the Work-Integrated Learning Approach (DESIRED), focuses on closing the gap between university training and workplace expectations. Over the next 24 months, the project will help equip accounting graduates in Nigeria and Uganda with practical, job-ready skills through a Work-Integrated Learning model. It will also support curriculum reform, strengthen industry–academia partnerships, and promote mobility opportunities for both students and staff. Recall that COOU will collaborate with Nnamdi Azikiwe University, MAT ABACUS Business School, Makerere University Business School, Universidade de Lisboa, Stichting VU, and Sejjaaka Kaawaase & Co., with additional support from the Uganda Chapter for Corporate Social Responsibility. More than 3,000 students and staff across the partner institutions are expected to benefit from this initiative.
As part of the early implementation activities, the Nigerian DESIRED Project Team from COOU and NAU held a Project take-off Capacity Building Workshop on 5th November 2025 at the Vice-Chancellor’s Conference Room, COOU.
The workshop brought together the Research Teams from both universities to streamline tasks and strengthen collaboration for effective project delivery. The meeting focused on ensuring that the DESIRED Project meets its goals within the expected timelines, especially those relating to curriculum improvement, workplace relevance, and student employability.
In her remarks, the COOU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kate Omenugha fnipr, warmly welcomed the teams and reaffirmed the University’s full commitment to the project. She assured the participants that COOU is ready to support all activities through her Office and the EU Portal Unit, noting that the University sees the DESIRED Project as an important opportunity to deepen international engagement and enhance academic standards.
The NAU Project Lead, Professor Anthony Nnedum, explained the purpose of the workshop and stressed the importance of coordinated efforts among both universities. The COOU Research Lead, Dr Chukwunonso Ekesiobi, noted that this meeting was the first in a series of engagements aimed at fostering synergy.
He also acknowledged the presence of the Heads of the Departments of Accounting and Finance, Professors Sunday Anichebe and Gabriel Nkechukwu, describing them as key stakeholders whose involvement is essential in mobilising students for the project. The workshop formed part of the Project Management and Coordination Work Package. The teams reviewed all work packages and deliverables and agreed on strategies to guide the next stages of implementation.
The meeting ended with a renewed commitment from both universities to continue working together to strengthen accounting education, enrich industry engagement, and improve graduate employability. The teams expressed their readiness to involve accounting students fully in the coming weeks and to ensure that the project creates lasting value for the University and the wider academic community.
