Unizik’s Vice Chancellor Bags Excellence Award In China

 In recognition of his sterling disposition to the growth of the Confucius Institute (CI) in the University and in Nigeria, the Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Joseph E. Ahaneku, FAS was recently honoured in China with the Global Individual Excellence award.

The award was presented to the Vice-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Board of Confucius Institute in the University at the 13th Confucius Institute Conference in Chengdu, China.

It would be recalled that owing to its excellent performance in Chinese teaching, HSK tests, student employment, scholarships, Chinese Proficiency competitions, cultural activities and many other aspects, the Confucius Institute in the University had won the honorable title of “Advanced Confucius Institute” twice in 2015 and 2017.

The Vice-Chancellor was chosen this year as the model University administrator under the Global Individual Excellence Award.

In an interview with UNIZIK Bulletin Crew in his office, the Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the Confucius Institute Headquarters in China had assessed the University’s CI and reached the decision that the University had propelled the Institute and encouraged growth in the areas of the teaching and learning of the language, culture and other opportunities and deemed it fit to honor him.

According to Prof. Ahaneku, “This is a way of urging our CI to grow further than where we are now. In the past, we received the CI of the year award in 2015 and 2017. This time, they have recognized my special contribution from the time when I was made the Director of the Institute up to the time I emerged the Chairman of the Board”. The Vice-Chancellor expressed his gratitude to the staff and workers at the institute for their diligence and active participation.

According to him, “Through diligence and hard work, we have been able to showcase our performance to the wider world”. We are one of the best CIs in the world. More than 700 Nigerians that have accessed scholarship in China to advance their knowledge are from this our centre”.

He further appreciated the Chinese Government for extending the hand of fellowship and goodwill to Nigeria and equally thanked members of the board for actively performing their work. According to him, the award is a testimony of the collective performance of CI Board and staff of the CI.