American University of Nigeria

American University of Nigeria

Type	Private
Established	2004
President	Dr. Margee Ensign (July 2010-Present)[1]
Location	Yola, Adamawa, Nigeria
Campus	Rural
Website	americanuniversitynigeria.org

American University of Nigeria (AUN) is a private university in northeastern Nigeria that offers American style higher education programs at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels. Founded in 2004,^[2] it is the only American style university in Sub-Saharan Africa. AUN is accredited by the Nigerian National Universities Commissions.^[3]

History

Founded in 2004 by Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria's former vice president, the American University of Nigeria opened its doors to its first students in 2005. The university is located in northeastern Nigeria in Yola, the state capital of Adamawa state.

The university was originally named the ABTI American University of Nigeria before the name was simplified to American University of Nigeria. This puts it in conformity with practices of other American style universities outside of the United States, such as the American University of Beirut and the American University of Paris. AUN is the only American style institution of higher learning in sub-Saharan Africa (the only other such university in Africa is the American University in Cairo in Egypt).^[4] AUN is a member of the Association of American International Colleges and Universities.

The university's current president, preceded by Dr. David Huwiler and Dr. Michael Smith, is Dr. Margee Ensign.^[1] Dr. Ensign came to the post having served as dean of the School of International Studies at the University of the Pacific, where she was also the associate provost.^[5]

Partnership

The university's main partner is Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.^[6]

Academics

The university consists of three schools, offering the following undergraduate majors and graduate programs:^[7]

School of Arts and Sciences

• BSc Communications and Multimedia Design
• BSc Natural and Environmental Science
• BSc Petroleum Chemistry (with Engineering option)
• BA Economics
• BA International and Comparative Politics
• BA English Language and Literature

School of Business and Entrepreneurship

Undergraduate level:

• BSc Business Administration (with specialties)
• BSc Accounting
• BSc Finance
• BSc Marketing
• BSc Management and Entrepreneurship

Graduate level:

• Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• MSc Business Administration
• PhD Business Administration

School of Information Technology and Communications

Undergraduate level:

• BSc Software Engineering
• BSc Computer Science
• BSc Information Systems
• Telecommunications and Wireless Technologies

Graduate level:

• Executive Masters in Information Technology
• Executive Masters in Telecommunications
• Master of Information Systems Security Management
• MSc Computer Science
• MSc Information Systems
• PhD Computer Science
• PhD Information systems

Facilities

AUN is a residential campus situated on 2,400 hectares.^[8] It is home to approximately 1,400 undergraduate students and 87 faculty members.

The university's e-Library Project was awarded the American Library Association's Presidential Citation for Innovative International Library Projects in 2013.^[9]

Governance and Mission

The university describes itself as a "development university," focusing on practical role it feels "a great university must play in the development of a great nation"^[10] in addition to its traditional role as a repository, transmitter and creator of knowledge.

The university's mission is:

to provide quality education to Nigeria and Africa’s future leaders in order to equip them with the skills needed to solve development issues on the continent, and give them the knowledge needed to create solutions that will benefit their community, their country and, ultimately, the world. To this end, AUN will foster the creation of leaders committed to sustaining a democracy in which diverse people share in the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, proficient in creating and applying technology to wise purpose, and dedicated to securing a humane and prosperous world.^[10]

AUN boasts a globally distinguished Board of Trustees^[11] chaired by Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun, former managing director of Habib Nigeria Bank. Other members of the Board include:

• Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu of South Africa, who served as the commencement speaker at AUN's first graduation in May 2009

• Dr. John Campbell, former American ambassador to Nigeria

• Dr. Bamanga Tukur, president of the African Business Roundtable

• Dr. Louis Goodman, dean of the School of International Service at American University in Washington, DC

• Mr. Gabriele Volpi, managing director of Intels Oilfield, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria

• Alhaji Tajudeen Dantata, CEO of The Dantata Organization, Ltd.

• H.E. Prof. Gilbert Bukenya
• Prof. William Bertrand, co-founder of the Payson Center for International Development at Tulane University
• Dr. Mummadou Kah, vice chancellor/president of the University of the Gambia
• Bishop Matthew Kukah
• Dr. Anna Mokgokong

• Alhaji Adamu Abubakar

• Chief (Dr.) Mike Adenuga

• Prof. Patrick Utomi

• Dr. Peter Lewis
• Mr. Jon Freeman

• Dr. Ronald Mason

References

External links

• Official website