In a strategic move set to significantly boost the quality of mathematical education and research in Nigeria, the National Mathematical Centre (NMC) is forging crucial collaborations with both the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
This plan to strengthen teaching, learning, and research in Mathematical Sciences was unveiled by the Director/Chief Executive of the Centre, Professor Promise Mebine, during a recent meeting of its Governing Council. The news was shared in a statement released in Abuja by Mr. Onyekachi Njoku, the Controller of Information and Public Relations for the NMC.
Expanding Post-Graduate Opportunities
Professor Mebine explained that these powerful partnerships are designed to enhance academic activities, particularly those leading to the award of post-graduate degrees. These advanced qualifications will cover diverse and critical fields, including Mathematics, Mathematics Education, Theoretical Physics, Statistics, and Computer Science.
Specifically, the collaboration with FUT Minna will enable the NMC to jointly run Post-graduate Diploma, Masters, and Doctoral programs in Mathematical Sciences. Furthermore, the affiliation with NOUN is intended to establish the NMC as a true Centre of Excellence in the Mathematical Sciences, with essential support coming from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
The Vision: A Specialized University
These sweeping initiatives are not isolated efforts but are part of a larger, ongoing strategy to prepare the Centre for its eventual conversion into a specialized National University of Mathematical Sciences (NUMS).
According to Professor Mebine, the specialized NOUN Centre of Excellence, supported by TETFund, will be pivotal in addressing the chronic shortage of high-level manpower in Mathematical Sciences across both Nigerian industries and academia. The Centre’s programs are poised to churn out highly skilled experts in both core mathematical areas and emerging fields like Algebra, Number Theory, Algebraic Geometry, Theoretical Physics, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning.
Mebine stressed that developing expertise in these advanced fields is essential for generating impactful research outputs that will ultimately bolster Nigeria’s technological and industrial advancement.
To accelerate this transformation, Professor Mebine also called for the swift amendment of the Act establishing the Centre. He believes that facilitating the conversion to the proposed National University of Mathematical Sciences will effectively position Nigeria as a regional hub for advanced mathematical education and innovation.
