The Vice-Chancellor, 水果派 of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, has assured the聽West and Central African Research and Education Network聽(WACREN) of the university鈥檚 readiness to further strengthen existing collaboration between the two organisations.
WACREN is聽a regional organisation that builds and operates high-speed, secure network infrastructure and services for education and research communities.
Prof. Uduma, who stated this on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 while playing host to a team from WACREN at his office in Abuja, explained that by forging a continued partnership, NOUN aims to maintain lead in聽strengthening digital education and research networks across聽the sub-region.
He said the university has been working with WACREN for quite a long time through the office of the DVC, Technology, Innovation and Research and appreciated the opportunities being offered by the network.
Prof. Uduma also聽acknowledged that聽NOUN has been a household name when it comes to Open Access聽to ensure a broader access to knowledge,聽which underlined the crucial role of digital infrastructure.
He told the visitors that he is ready and supportive of聽anything聽that will ensure the effective implementation of the collaboration between the two organisations.
Earlier, leader of the 3-man WACREN team, Mr. Omo Oaiya, who is the Chief Strategy Officer, said they were at the Vice-Chancellor鈥檚 office to appraise him on the existing relationship so as to find ways of strengthening it.
Mr. Oaiya, accompanied by Emeritus Prof. Ogugua Aworh and the chair, Eko-Konnect, Prof. Charles Uwaidia, told the VC that the Memorandum of Understanding with NOUN, signed in December last year, aims to create a project on Africa Digital Campus, where certain projects could be moved there.
He said the relationship, which is already 鈥渇lourishing under the DVC TIR,鈥澛爁ocuses聽on strengthening digital infrastructure, enhancing research capabilities, and fostering education聽through platforms like NOUN 鈥榮 ACETEL.
The team鈥檚 leader added that the Lagos-based Eko-Konnect, as a member of the WACREN, runs the Nigerian identity in providing infrastructure and other key services.
He said through WACREN鈥檚 Living Lab initiative, it enables聽experimental test-beds for innovations, engaging diverse stakeholders for聽research around digital infrastructure.
Present at the meeting were the DVC, Administration, Prof. Shehu Adamu, DVC TIR, Prof. Christine Ofulue, University Librarian, Prof. Angela Okpala, Director, Academic Planning, Prof. Gregory Okagbare the newly-appointed director of ACETEL, Prof. Emeka Ogoko, the Director of ICT, Dr. Frank and a host of other senior officials of the university.