In April 2018, a delegation from Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering (FCEE), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) paid an academic visit to Kaduna State University (KASU) and Kaduna Polytechnic (KadPoly). The delegation team was headed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norzita Ngadi, while other members of the team included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Roshanida and Dr. Wong Syie Luing. The purpose of the visit was to introduce Universiti Teknologi Malaysia to the Nigerian students as a place to further their studies, and to discuss future academic and research collaborations between UTM and the participating institutions in Nigeria namely KASU, KadPoly and Sokoto State University (SSU). The delegation team was received by Dr Ibrahim Inuwa, the Head of Chemistry Department, KASU, as well as Dr A.O. Lawal, the Director of College of Science and Technology, KadPoly. Following a series of meetings held at the various institutions, a tripartite letter of Cooperation was signed by the representatives of the institutions. A proposal of tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also drafted for consideration by the management of UTM. Highlights of the proposed MoU in academic and research collaborations drafted include the following areas:
- Biofuel
- Wastewater treatment
- Pyrolysis
- Green technologies (concrete technology and flame retardant research)
- Biofertilizer
The general areas of the MoU covered aspects related but not limited to the following:
- co-supervision/remote supervision of projects
- bench support for projects
- simultaneous joint organisation/hosting of international conferences and seminars
- grants from collaborating institutions
- share/donation of institutional facilities
- staff and students exchange
- exchange of information and joint publication of research articles from joint research
The UTM delegation paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Hon. Arc. Barnabas Yusuf Bala, Bantex, who represented the Kaduna State Governor Mal. Nasir Ahmad El Rufai. The Deputy Governor expressed his warm welcome to the UTM delegation. He also lauded their initiative and interest in Kaduna state, thus paving way to the proposed tripartite collaborations.
The five-day visit marked an important milestone in the formation of a very strategic partnership, to all the partners and the two governments of Malaysia and Nigeria. This historic visit and partnership was facilitated by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) as part of their contribution to UTM for the development of Science and technology in Malaysia.
