The University of Calabar (UniCal) and Clark Atlanta University in the United States are set to explore a partnership in Artificial Intelligence (AI), entrepreneurship, and rare earth minerals exploration.
UniCal Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Offiong Offiong, disclosed this on Tuesday while receiving a delegation from the American university during a courtesy visit.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Linkages and Collaboration, Prof. Anthony Eneji, the vice-chancellor welcomed the delegation and commended Clark Atlanta University for choosing UniCal as a prospective partner.
Offiong said the university had established a strong record of collaboration with institutions within and outside Nigeria and remained open to partnerships that delivered mutual benefits.
He urged the delegation to submit a formal letter of intent to enable the university’s management constitute a working team to review the proposal and develop a framework for the collaboration.
The vice-chancellor said the proposed partnership would enable both institutions to leverage their technical expertise and consultancy services.
He added that the institutions could extend the collaboration to relevant companies and organisations.
He also expressed the university’s readiness to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to guide the partnership, particularly where funding opportunities existed.
Earlier, Prof. Henry Whitlow of Clark Atlanta University, said the delegation sought to establish the collaboration through SoundMind Buildup, Nigeria, a local implementing partner for entrepreneurship and AI training.
He said the initiative would equip young people with entrepreneurial and AI skills to establish businesses, create jobs, and contribute to economic development.
”We teach AI in entrepreneurship to enhance data collection, data analysis, and other business processes,” Whitlow said.
He disclosed that the United States Department of State sponsored the programme through the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), adding that UniCal was among four institutions selected for the collaboration.
Whitlow also identified rare earth minerals as another potential area of partnership, highlighting opportunities in their discovery, exploration, and commercialisation.
He said UniCal possessed relevant expertise in geology, engineering, and other related disciplines that could support research and development in the sector.
