The University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has established a cutting edge International Institute for Publishing Studies (UIIPS).
The objective of the institute is to train manpower in publishing for Nigeria and the world at large.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, revealed this at a news conference on Friday in Abuja.
According to him, the institute is aimed at helping Nigeria fill the gap that already existed in the place of training publishers.
“As a university, we must respond to the need of our nation. Printers are everywhere in this nation but there are no institutions training them.
“We, at the University of Abuja have the responsibility to bring out ideas and activities that will respond to our need because this obviously has become a need.
“Universities are suffering in this country; there are many publishers that are vanity publishers, publishers that do not know the academic world when publishing.
“You go through these books or materials published, you are ashamed and these things sometimes go outside the country,” he said.
The VC added that the programme was subjected to new review, new research, strategy and development as time goes.
He said the institute would run a professional Master’s degree programme.
Na’Allah urged agencies, institutions, publishers of books and materials to bring in their personnel for training in the institute, emphasizing on the need for collaboration and partnerships.
“We want this institute to be number one in Africa and to compete with others around the world. We want it to be one of our remarkable institutes in the university,” he said.
He noted that the institute was not a government sponsored degree program, hence it would pay its own salary from the money generated.
“It is not a programme subsidised by the government, they will pay salaries from the fund they generate and the fees for the programme will be affordable.” Na’Allah said.
He then thanked TETfund for building the academic publishing house, adding that the institution would welcome students not only from Nigeria but Africa.
The Director of the Institute, Emeritus Prof. Chris Ogbondah, stressed that the institute would offer 12 months programme for professional master’s degree.
Ogbondah stated that institute has state of the art equipment, highlighting the potential benefits of such facilities.
“The institute is well equipped and ready to run a master’s programme in publishing studies.
“We have partnership in terms of profession, we have partnership with the Nigeria Association of Publishers and our students will have networking opportunity,” he said.
saharandaily