About – Directorate of University Advancement

The Directorate of University Advancement (DUA), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria, stands as one of the strategic administrative and developmental arms of the university established to strengthen institutional growth, promote global visibility, facilitate strategic partnerships, and advance the broader mission of the university within the national and international academic community.

Since its inception, the Directorate has continued to evolve in response to the changing dynamics of higher education and the growing need for universities to position themselves competitively within the global knowledge economy. The establishment of the Directorate was driven by the realization that modern universities must move beyond their traditional responsibilities of teaching and research to embrace broader roles involving institutional advancement, collaboration, innovation, donor engagement, and strategic external relations.

The Directorate was therefore created to serve as a bridge between Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and the wider world by fostering meaningful relationships with industries, research institutes, donor agencies, alumni, corporate organizations, development partners, governmental institutions, and the global academic community. Through these engagements, the Directorate contributes significantly to the university’s aspirations in research development, institutional visibility, capacity building, infrastructure growth, innovation transfer, and sustainable development.

Over the years, the Directorate of University Advancement has remained committed to promoting the image, strengths, and opportunities available within the university. The Directorate coordinates institutional collaborations, facilitates Memoranda of Understanding, supports strategic partnerships, strengthens alumni relations, promotes donor engagements, and projects the university’s research and innovation capacities to the world. In the contemporary academic environment where institutional relevance is increasingly determined by visibility, partnerships, and innovation, the Directorate occupies a pivotal role in advancing the university’s developmental agenda.

As a specialized institution with a strong mandate in agriculture, science, engineering, technology, and sustainable development, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike possesses enormous research and innovation potential distributed across its colleges, departments, centers, institutes, and specialized units. The Directorate continues to provide a platform through which these strengths are showcased to attract collaborations, investments, training opportunities, grants, and developmental partnerships capable of positively impacting the university and society at large.

The Directorate has also increasingly embraced the responsibility of improving the university’s global outlook through strategic communication and international engagement. In today’s digital and interconnected academic world, universities are assessed not only by their academic outputs but also by their capacity to engage globally, innovate meaningfully, and sustain productive partnerships. The Directorate therefore continues to reposition itself to align with international best practices in university advancement and institutional development.

The growth and evolution of the Directorate have been shaped by visionary leadership provided by successive Directors who contributed significantly to building and sustaining the Directorate’s mandate over the years. Since its establishment, the Directorate has been led by distinguished scholars and administrators whose efforts helped strengthen its operational foundation and institutional relevance.

The Directors of the Directorate of University Advancement since inception are as follows:

Rev. Canon Dr. Roland C. Wokocha served as the pioneer Director from 2007 to 2009 and laid the foundational structures upon which the Directorate was built.

Prof. Friday Ekeleme served from 2009 to 2013 and contributed significantly to the growth and institutional development of the Directorate during his tenure.

Dr. Princewill C. Ogbonna subsequently served as Director and continued the advancement initiatives of the Directorate through strategic institutional engagements.

Prof. Obini E. Ekpe also served as Director and contributed to strengthening the Directorate’s role in institutional visibility and collaboration.

Prof. Patrick A. Ogwo further advanced the activities of the Directorate through sustained developmental and administrative efforts.

Prof. C. O. Ofor served from 2021 to 2026 and contributed immensely toward repositioning the Directorate within the framework of contemporary university advancement practices.

Presently, the Directorate is under the leadership of Engr. Prof. K. C. Onyelowe, serving from 2026 to 2028, with a renewed vision aimed at repositioning the Directorate as a globally competitive platform for strategic partnerships, research collaborations, innovation advancement, donor engagement, alumni integration, and international institutional visibility.

Today, under the visionary leadership of Prof. Ursula N. Akanwa, the university is experiencing a renewed atmosphere of hope, restoration, academic advancement, and institutional transformation. The administration continues to prioritize research excellence, global engagement, infrastructural development, innovation, and sustainable institutional growth. In alignment with this vision, the Directorate of University Advancement remains committed to supporting the university through strategic partnerships and collaborative initiatives capable of strengthening the university’s global relevance and developmental impact.

The Directorate continues to invite the global academic community, industries, donor agencies, alumni, inventors, innovators, researchers, and development partners to explore the vast opportunities available within Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Through collaboration, innovation, and strategic engagement, the Directorate remains dedicated to advancing the university’s mandate while contributing meaningfully to agricultural transformation, scientific innovation, technological advancement, and sustainable development within Nigeria and beyond.

As the university continues to grow and adapt to emerging global realities, the Directorate of University Advancement stands ready to serve as a strategic window through which the world can connect with the vision, capacities, and aspirations of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria.

DETAIL OF AWARDS, PRIZES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE COLLEGE/DIRECTORATE/CENTRE

The Directorate has been able to forge relationships and secure commitments required to advance the institution’s mission and priorities. Linkages and affiliations have been established with some institutions, which have led to signing of memoranda of Understanding (MoU) and other partnership arrangement between the University and the institution.

The Institutions are:

1. Utah State University, USA (September, 2009)
2. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan (December, 2009)
3. The Center for Superconductivity Technologies (TCST), in Abuja ( January, 2011)
4. McGill University, Canada ( February, 2010)
5. Tennessee State University, USA ( October, 2010)
6. University of Boras Sweden (November, 2010)
7. Commonwealth Secretariat;
8. Association of African Universities;
9. Kentucky State University, USA. (2012)
10. Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytecnic, Uwana, Afikpo. (2016)
11. University of Washington, USA (2017)
12. Purdue University, USA – in area of Engineering and sciences (2017)
13. International Astronomical Union (Office of Astronomy for Development. (2017)
14. West African International summer School Project, Ghana (2017)
15. National Mathematical Centre Abuja (2017

Also, these linkages have created enabling environment for:

1. University of the Peloponnese, GR-26334 Patras, Greece.
2. University of Kwazulu Natal, Durban, South Africa.
3. University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
4. Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji.
5. National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training and Research Kolkata, India.
6. Enkay Enviro Services Private Limited, India.