Abuja: The National Mathematical Centre (NMC) has announced plans to collaborate with the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to strengthen teaching, learning, and research in Mathematical Sciences.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, this initiative was disclosed in a statement issued by the Controller of Information and Public Relations at NMC, Mr. Onyekachi Njoku. The statement quotes Prof. Promise Mebine, Director/Chief Executive of the Centre, speaking during a meeting of its Governing Council about the strategic partnership.
Prof. Mebine outlined that the collaboration aims to enhance academic activities leading to the award of postgraduate degrees in various fields, including Mathematics, Mathematics Education, Theoretical Physics, Statistics, and Computer Science. The partnership with FUT Minna will enable the Centre to offer Postgraduate Diploma, Masters, and Doctoral programs in the Mathematical Sciences.
Additionally, Mebine noted that the affiliation with NOUN would help establish the Centre as a Centre of Excellence in the Mathematical Sciences, with the support of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). This initiative is part of broader efforts to transition the Centre into a specialized National University of Mathematical Sciences (NUMS).
Prof. Mebine emphasized that the NOUN Centre of Excellence, in collaboration with TETFund, will address the critical shortage of high-level manpower in Mathematical Sciences across various industries and academia. The Centre’s programs are designed to produce experts in both core and emerging fields such as Algebra, Number Theory, Algebraic Geometry, Theoretical Physics, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning. These areas are crucial for generating research outputs that will bolster Nigeria’s technological and industrial advancement.
In his statements, Mebine also advocated for the swift amendment of the Act establishing the Centre, facilitating its conversion to the proposed National University of Mathematical Sciences. He stated that this transformation would position Nigeria as a regional hub for advanced mathematical education and innovation.
