UMES to enroll 100 students from Nigerian Delta

By Stephen Williams, WESM News

PRINCESS ANNE, MD – In a signing ceremony held Wednesday on the campus of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), University President Thelma B. Thompson signed an agreement with a Nigerian Commission representative that will bring some 100 students from the oil-producing Delta State in Nigeria.

The agreement is between UMES and the group known as the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission. The commission is comprised of petroleum companies that work in the Delta region of Nigeria, and it will pay for all of the students' tuition and expenses.

Specifically, the program will allow these students to obtain Bachelor and Master of Science degrees - as well as short-term certificate programs, in a number of areas.

However, a key condition of the agreement is that these Nigerian scholars return to their country, once they've successfully completed their degree programs at UMES. In addition, the students' progress will be monitored throughout the course of their study.

Also in attendance at the signing ceremony were a number of community members and UMES administrators. Dr. Emmanuel Acquah, who is the Executive Director of International Programs at UMES, provided the introduction to the ceremony.

In her remarks during the signing ceremony, Dr. Thompson noted in her remarks that this historic agreement is part of her desire to make globalization a priority for the University. She also added that she would like these students to foster a spirit of entrepreneurship, so that when they return to Nigeria, with the capacity to spur economic development and growth in their region.

After the signing ceremony, I asked Dr. Thompson what she would most like to see ultimately come out of this effort:

Thompson: I'd like to see the human growth development, which was mentioned. But more than anything else, it is a tool two-way street for UMES, where we will learn from these students and hopefully they will learn great things from us. And as they go back, they will populate the entire country and spread the good things that they have learned.

I also spoke with Mr. Odalanu Otuya. He is the Director of Development for the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission - which is paying for the students expenses.

Question: With a country as big and as oil-rich as Nigeria, do you think that this program is going to help spur more development within your country?

Otuya: Of course, as far as human capital development is concerned. In my state, that's one of the programs that my governor's running - human capital development. And of course, he was very enthusiastic to approve of this program. And I'm sure that other [Nigerian] states will follow.

Otuya: There are other states with oil, who are also coming with a commission like ours. And those that [don't] also will see the need to send their students to come down here, get this knowledge and experience, and come back home and help build a country.

Question: And what would you like to see most come out of this program - for the students, and also for the rest of your countrymen?

Otuya: Uh, of course, it's going to help us build the human capital development [and] improve the knowledge get to see what life is outside Nigeria, and how you're going to meet with other diverse students and persons from all across the world. And of course, you can be sure that that will bring a lot of changes and development to my country and then to the students, particularly [those] who are coming here.

This most recent signing represents one of nine international linkage agreements that have been signed thus far under President Thompson's leadership.

The agreement for UMES to educate these approximately 100 Nigerian students will remain in effect for a period of 4 years, with a regular review of the student's progress - and the option of extending the program later.

The students will arrive at UMES next month and begin their classes this fall.

To listen to this report:
Please click on the "Play" icon on the media player at the top of this article.