Nwabunka: Amadeus university is the interplay between industry and academia

The oft repeated expression of the town and gown meeting to form a robust interplay of knowledge through a symbiotic synthesis, is best described in the words of Dr. Godwin Nwabunka, founder of the tier one microfinance company Grooming Centre and the Amadeus University in Amizi Ikwuano LGA Abia State.

Succinctly stated: “The alignment between Grooming Centre and Amadeus University is a symbiotic relationship that should be a model for the interplay between industry and academia, with net positive effects on national development.” Nwabunka’s inaugural address and presentation of Amadeus University to the polity and by extension the global village of education, is the story of a man told and retold from cradle till date, summarised in what he described as an idea God planted in him.

As he put it: “For me founding Amadeus University has been one of the most fulfilling endeavours of my life. It is the culmination of years of experience and a deep passion for education. I have always believed that education is the greatest gift we can give, and it is my hope that this institution will continue to give that gift for generations to come.

“I had aspired to end my career in academia after my time in international service and the private sector, but here I am today, leading a process far beyond what I had imagined.”

A visit to the university campus is a fulfilling and rewarding expedition. This reporter had been briefed of a new unfolding experiment in the quiet and peaceful community called AmizI in Ikwuano LGA. It is reminiscent of a drive down the route lining the long fence of Maryland State University in the US..

Upon arrival at the university gate, it struck him that the venture has had life breathed into it after his visit twelve months  earlier. He remembered a similar visit with Tayo Aderinokun, co-founder of Guaranty Trust Bank, to his Day Waterman College in Abeokuta, as well as the awakened imageries while  reviewing Seriake Dickson’s Hensard University and a tour of Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University formerly Eastern Palm University Orlu, Imo State, at the prompting of its founder the  then Governor Rochas Okorocha and of couse an encounter with Atiku Abubakar’s American University of Nigeria and only recently the trending exposure of the world class Wigwe University in Isiokpo, Rivers State.

Yet Amadeus has something extra and unique in the offing. It has become a village within Amizi and the horizon was exuding palpable development lecturers and students would be proud of identifying with.

A two hour walk round a campus that has just been officially opened by Senate President Godswill Akpabio with emphasis on the need to eradicate what he called the out of school syndrome, is not only exhausting but exhilarating. Take a deep breathe and listen to the piano concertos of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the heavenly classics of the Marriage of Figaro, the Magic Flute and Requiem. I had woken up the spirit of Mozart and asked him to escort me on this guided tour. His piano classic Jupiter Symphony did not disappoint. Someday Amadeus University will hopefully offer courses in music in honour of Mozart and the founder who is a collector and impresario of various musical genre, who gets lost in the mood of the old school and modern classic, jazz, and high life beats

I sat on the well paved culvert contemplating the blend of nature and man. Here is a new institution with blended landscapes, a union between architecture and earth, producing harmony in the surroundings, an unfolding tourist attraction centre. If it wants a golf course and other Olympic size sporting facilities, the space may well be available. Imagine the developmental package this institution is bringing to Amizi community and by extension Ikwuano LGA. A well funded College of Medicine, for example, will be the gateway to medical tourism.

Amadeus as the founder stated, is a project of huge and modern infrastructure, which will ultimately enable it to be admitted as a top global academic institution  of tomorrow as its numerous stages come on stream. The land space is intimidating in size, something to talk about with the assurance that the builders of this academic space ship have a vision of great things ahead. That was why the founder was full of adulations for the royal fathers present and families who saw the vision and gave their land and moral support

This is how Nwabunka extolled their contributions: “To my Eze, His Royal Majesty Eze Udo I of Awomnuzie, Eze Dr. Eugene Ndimele, as well as other royal fathers and traditional leaders seated, your presence here is an honour, and your endorsement of this institution speaks volumes about the role Amadeus University will play in our communities. Thank you for your guidance and for the blessings you bestow upon us as we move forward. To Very Rev. Fr. Donatus Okpokpo and the Ndukwe Family, who bought into the dream from day one and donated the first plots of land that we now stand on-I thank you immensely. To Mr Uche Usuwa, our able President-General of the Amizi Development Union, thank you for your commitment and sacrifice towards the realisation of this dream.

“To the Distinguished Senator Augustine Akobundu who has been a brother, motivator and advocate bar none, your support and devotion is forever cherished. I must also thank the members of the Steering Committee, especially Chijioke Okafor and Nnaemeka Nwachukwu, for driving the technical aspects and deploying innovation for the attainment of this dream, and for most times going beyond the call of duty. It was a long list that included the team at the National Universities Commission (NUC), Dr Noel Ihebuzor, Dr Abrahams whose university is in partnership with Amadeus, and members of the Governing Council, all of whom he painstakingly mentioned.

A well funded College of Medicine, for example, will be the gateway to medical tourism for an Amadeus University Teaching Hospital (AUTH).  Nwabunka, who with his wife Isoken suffered a deadly attack from Covid 19, have even before then been investing heavily in primary healthcare, a more sustainable path beyond the era of palliatives, even for the millions of stakeholders of Grooming Centre and Amizi Health Centre. That spirit of a healthy mind in a healthy body, will mark the evolution of a medical tourist attraction centre, a teaching hospital such as the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, (UNTH), Enugu, the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), in Amadeus

As the Vice Chancellor Professor Samuel Nzotta put it: “There has been emphasis here regarding the list of our future developmental intentions. In the next two years, we are going to put in our papers for the Faculty of Law and then the College of Medicine. Our healthcare challenges in the country are enormous, just as our food crisis is also very glaring. Both challenges are here with us.The idea is that these are areas where there are a whole lot of developmental challenges and once the requirements are met within our set time frames and the demands from our stakeholders, we shall be ready to launch these faculties.

“We have keyed into the vision of the founder. Essentially, we intend to have in place a university that is going to provide excellent teaching and learning facilities. We are going to be innovative and ensure that we impart skills to our graduates such that they are going to be job creators and not job seekers.”

The founder and chairman Board of Trustees of Amadeus agreed, adding that the university was envisioned to do more than teach; “it was founded as a crucible to empower, to inspire, and to shape the next generation of African leaders.

He continued with his narrative: “During my time in the United Nations system and particularly at UNICEF, the manifestations of poverty, root causes and effects featured prominently in our programming and planning. In the course of my work and travels, I encountered many women and children from various parts of the world, and their stories deepened my awareness of the universal truth that education has the power to transform lives.

“When I left UNICEF and founded Grooming Centre in 2006, my commitment was to contribute to promoting sustainable livelihoods for households at the base of the pyramid alongside bold initiatives that result in improved health outcomes, enterprise development, as well as promoting access to quality education for young people. In our quest to make sustainable contributions to the education sector, we started by implementing grant and scholarship programs that have so far supported over 4,200 students at secondary and tertiary levels, as well as supporting the development of learning facilities and infrastructure in many schools across the nation.

“Seeing the success of these programmes and how they transformed the lives of these students and their families, we began to explore ways to make further impact in this sector. On a particular road trip in the South-West with my brother and colleague, Alexander Enyinnah, the possibility of undertaking this initiative was strengthened when we realised the growing number of tertiary education Institutions along our way.

“After many spirited discussions with him, my family and team, the dream of Amadeus University was born, and I thank God that today it is now a dream come true. As I stated earlier, Grooming Centre has been dedicated to empowering people since I founded it in 2006, particularly those at the base of the pyramid, through inclusive financial and non-financial services, achieving the status of a Global Tier One microfinance institution within its first decade, as well as the delivery of over 12 million credits to households.

“Our collaborations with our funding and technical assistance partners, various industry experts, government bodies, and academia, are crucial to ensuring that our students receive the highest quality of education. These partnerships will allow us to stay at the forefront of innovation and provide our students with practical, real-world experiences that will set them apart.

According to Nwabunka, Amadeus University is more than just classrooms, lecture halls, hostels and offices. It is a home for those who think outside the box and seek to make a difference in the world. “Our mission is clear: to produce graduates who are academically excellent, morally grounded, and globally competitive.

“Our ambition is to harness the richness of this land, from the strength of our community to its abundant natural resources and use these in creating a catalyst for wider development-not just for our communities, but for Abla State, for Nigeria and the world at large. We seek to bring the world here to benefit from the value that lies within our people. This vision is grounded in the pursuit of knowledge.

“Our work here will position research outcomes at the forefront, research that translates into industrial application and societal advancement, ultimately empowering people and unchaining potential. We are here to ignite a fire in the young minds before us, inspiring them to become change makers, shining the light to illuminate and eventually transform every aspect of our society, unearthing the treasures that lie within, and converting waste into opportunity. We are here to innovate, to harness the power of Promethean fire to change the narrative; this is our calling. All of this is embodied in the University’s logo: the palm, symbolizing our community, people and land; the open book, representing knowledge and research; and the flame, representing light, Innovation, transformation, and truth. Together with our motto, ‘Knowledge and Light, these elements form the foundation of our vision.

“Therefore, to my dear Trailblazers who we admit today as our first cohort of students, I say: You are pioneers. You are the cornerstone upon which the legacy of Amadeus University is built. You will learn the curriculum, yes, but you will also grow in ways that will challenge you to think critically, act ethically, and make meaningful contributions to society. Our emphasis on practical knowledge and strong ethical footing will prepare you for life beyond these walls. In your academic journey here, you will be challenged, you will be stretched, and at times, you may stumble but remember that every great journey is marked by perseverance. I urge you to hold onto the belief that with God, all things are possible,” just as he had earlier stated.

The Senate President’s speech was all about putting the right policies in place to ensure every Nigerian child must of necessity be educated to the highest level.’The unyielding power of education: forging a nation’s future,’ captured the essence and spirit of the founder of the sixth private university in Abia State, a university that is already showcasing its relevance with high premium placed on its laboratories open to those keen on research and investigation, the first of its kind in the state. For Akpabio, policies must be implemented with vigour, vision and veracity, which support for Amadeus University will help its drive towards innovation, one that will make it stand as a bastion of intellectual might.

After delivering the message of the Senate President, the Distinguished Senator representing Abia Central and former Defence Minister (State) under President Goodluck Jonathan, Senator Augustine Akobundu delivered his goodwill message Sunday at a thanksgiving service promising to deliver a minimum of N30 million (thirty million naira) by way of scholarships to deserving students of Amadeus University. It was one emotional moment for the Senator who has seen Amadeus transformed from concept to actuality before his very eyes by a true son of the soil.

Sadly, Professor Theodore De Muller who was at a point Nwabunka’s compass in his upward climb to international service and academic excellence, and billionaire businessman and investor Chief Sonny Odogwu who saw greatness in the making and would not let it go, as well as Nwabunka’s parents, in particular a mother who was a savvy businesswoman in her days and a father who saw education  as the gateway to greatness, like many fathers did, are missing this moment in history. Their memories will forever be evergreen, their impacts etched in bold relief.