COOU HOSTS NUC RESOURCE VERIFICATION TEAMS FOR NEW ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) has commenced the process of introducing several new academic programmes following the arrival of resource verification teams from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to assess the University's readiness to commence the programmes.

The resource verification exercise, which is being conducted in batches, commenced on Monday, 24th August, 2026, with the arrival of the first team of NUC officials to the University. The team inspected facilities and resources for proposed programmes in the Faculty of Computing, including Information Technology/Information Systems, Software Engineering, Cyber Security and Data Science. The Faculty of Management Sciences also presented Project Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Transport Management, Procurement and Taxation, while International Relations was presented by the Faculty of Social Sciences.

The second batch of the NUC resource verification team arrived on Thursday, 27th August, 2026, to assess the University's preparedness for programmes under the Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology. The programmes include Radiography, Optometry, Environmental Health, Public Health and Physiotherapy.

Welcoming the respective teams to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, the Director Academic Planning; Prof. Nneka Nnorom introduced the NUC members to the University management. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha, fnipr, while speaking, stressed that the proposed programmes represent another significant step towards positioning the institution for the future as the University is being referred to as the Now University and of the Future.

Prof. Omenugha stated that the University is fully prepared and eager to welcome the new programmes, noting that the resource verification exercise is the major process remaining before their commencement. She urged the NUC teams to carry out the exercise diligently and objectively, while providing the University with constructive guidance on areas that require improvement or further development.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, the University is not merely seeking approval to introduce new programmes, but is committed to ensuring that such programmes are supported with the right facilities, human resources and partnerships to make them impactful and relevant to the needs of society.

She further highlighted the commitment of the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, and the University Management towards building programmes that respond to emerging global challenges and opportunities. She noted that the proposed programmes, particularly those in computing, cyber security, artificial intelligence, data science and other technology-driven fields, are being pursued within a broader vision of positioning COOU as an institution capable of producing graduates equipped for the demands of the future.

The Vice-Chancellor recalled the University's efforts to establish strategic partnerships and collaborations in emerging fields, including the visit by the Governor, herself and other stakeholders to Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst and the Brampton Innovation District in Canada in pursuit of collaboration in cyber security. She also referenced their engagement with NVIDIA Headquarters in Silicon Valley, United States, in the University's search for strategic collaboration in Artificial Intelligence and related technologies.

She explained that these engagements are part of deliberate efforts to ensure that when the new programmes commence, they will not only exist as academic offerings but will be connected to industry, innovation and global best practices, thereby giving students opportunities to acquire relevant skills and compete in an increasingly technology-driven world.

The NUC resource verification teams, while interacting with the University Management and inspecting the facilities provided for the proposed programmes, expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded them since their arrival.

The teams emphasised that the purpose of the resource verification exercise is not to condemn the University, but to help it identify areas that may require attention, strengthening or improvement. They noted that their objective aligns with that of the University, as both the NUC and COOU are interested in ensuring that the proposed programmes are established on a sound foundation and meet the required standards for quality university education.

©️COOUNewS, 2026.