The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Nigeria and ECOWAS is considering the possibility of facilitating the establishment of a Centre for European Studies at the University of Ilorin.

This was disclosed by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and Head of the Delegation, Mr. Michel Arrion, when a delegation from the University of Ilorin, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali (OON), visited the EU Office in Abuja last Tuesday (February 9, 2016).

Ambassador Arrion said that since there are Institutes of African Studies in many European and American universities, "I don't see why we cannot have the Centre for European Studies in Nigeria." He disclosed that he studied ECOWAS Affairs in Belgium.

The Unilorin team was at the EU Office in continuation of the University's advocacy visits to explore areas of collaboration with reputable organisations towards ensuring the full implementation of its triple mandate of teaching, research and community service.

The EU Ambassador assured the Unilorin tam that his organisation was positively disposed to entering into effective partnership with the University in the areas of research, energy and innovation. Ambassador Arrion said, "We would like to find ways of working together with your University", adding that the visit signified the beginning of an enduring and beneficial relationship.

In his own remarks, the EU Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. Richard Young, noted that there are huge opportunities in European countries that Nigerians could take advantage of. According to Mr. Young, the University of Ilorin could take advantage of the European Union's aid programmes in learning mobility, joint Master's degree programmes as well as capacity building.

The EU Deputy Head of Mission also talked about the Erasmus Programme, which was introduced in 2014 by the European Union to support projects, partnerships, events and mobility in the areas of education, training, youth and sport. Mr. Young said that the Erasmus Programme provides funding opportunities for cooperation in all the above areas between European countries and partner countries throughout the world. He, however, pointed out that access to resources requires proposal writing, saying that potential beneficiaries would have to bid for the resources by forming partnerships with European donors.

Earlier in his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor had told his hosts that the University of Ilorin has collaboration agreements with a number of foreign universities and international organisations, adding that "right now, we have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Madison, Massachusetts, USA on Stem Cell research". Prof. Ambali said that the University, which "occupies a very important position in the tertiary education sector of the country", has "never closed its doors to our students in the past 15 years."

He said that the University, which is endowed with the largest land space in Africa, has several hectares of economic trees with which it hopes to generate additional revenue to supplement government funding of its activities. The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the University is about to commence its dairy production soon, saying, "We look forward to a cooperation arrangement on this with any interested member of the European Union Commission". A video clip on the giant strides of the University of Ilorin was later shown to the EU officials by the University's Director of Consultancy Services, Prof. Olugbenga Mokuolu.

The Vice-Chancellor later presented a copy of the 40th Anniversary commemorative book, "Unilorin at 40: the Soaring Eagle", to the Head of the EU Mission. Other University officials on the Vice-Chancellor's entourage included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. (Mrs.) N. Y. S. Ijaiya; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor-designate, Prof. Adedayo Y. Abdulkareem; the Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel Dada Obafemi; the Deputy Bursar, Mr. Munirudeen Dere; the Deputy Registrar, Abuja Liaison Office, Mrs. S. A. Oroge; the Director of Advancement Centre, Dr. Jeleel Ojuade; the Sub-Dean, Student Affairs, Dr. A. Yusuf; the Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun; Mr. Raphael O. Fatoye, a Chief Accountant in the Bursary Department; and Mr. Kazeem K. Babamale, a Principal Assistant Registrar in the Vice-Chancellor's Office.

Other officials of the EU commission present during the meeting were Mr. Temitayo Omole, the Project Manager, Health, Nutrition and Residence, and Ugo Sokari-Gerge the Communication Officer.