By Godwin Abedican

Arua,

Nile University has approved and inaugurated a new university governing council that will serve from the year 2023 till 2027. The 13 member council consists of the chairperson governing council, vice chairperson governing council, a Local Government representative, 2 education experts, a representative of the private sector, a representative of the Non-Governmental organisations, a lawyer, a representative of the religious institutions, the Vice Chancellor, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for administration and finance, a staff representative and the guild president.

While presiding over the inauguration of the new governing council of the university at the campus in Arua, Prince Lawrence Angala Opar, the Prime Minister Alur kingdom and the vice chairperson Board of directors Nile University appeals for unity among the leaders of the university saying the new council has a lot of work to do to lift the face of the university. “Selecting the members of the council is a decision that we trust. I wish you success in the execution of your duties. We will be the happiest of all if you can bring with you your experiences from other places,” Opar said.

Prof. Peter John Opio, who replaces Juruga Augustine as the new chairperson Nile university governing council, promises to commit himself to the new assignment at hand. “It’s is a great privilege but also a great challenge for me to take on this role as the chairperson of the governing council of this promising university. The reason as to why I have accepted to offer my services to the university is because it is a promising university with a great potential, and I don’t say this lightly. Base on my experiences with all kinds of academic institutions across the continent, from Africa, Europe, Asia and the US, the academia is very important and a determining factor for national competitiveness and so the role we take as far as I am concerned is crucial and very supportive to building a competitive, strong, self-sustaining Nile University. Our role is precisely anchored on this, to provide a strategic direction and make the university a very competitive and sought-after institution. We are not going to be competing with any university ion Uganda we are going to be benchmarking ourselves against the best in the industry,” he explained.

 
The new members of the University Governing Council pose for a group photo after inaugration
        
Dr. Luija Ezati Marie Azikuru, the university’s new vice chairperson governing council pledges to commit her efforts to the growth of the university since it has become their role to uplift the institution. “I declare my commitment to working together with the new bord of directors and the new council and the whole management team as well as all other stake holders. I will give my support in every possible way and put in to use the knowledge that I have on education particularly higher education,’ Ezati said.   

Dr. Agatha Alidri, an education expert on the governing council says the university should strive to be a module university across the country and provide a ground for what other universities are not doing. “This position to me is like giving back to the community, giving back to the university and giving back to West Nile. I would like to say that, this far the university has come is because of a concerted effort. This university has appeared at the right time, at the time when the country is trying to implement the Uganda vision 2040 and with the focus of the focus on social economic development. Therefore, is there something we can provide differently?” Agatha questioned.

According to Ann Hope Anguyo the head of private sector in the new governing council, there is need for a deliberate marketing which she commits to spearhead. She says as an agriculturalist with the university having agriculture as her flagship faculty and course, this will provide a great opportunity for practical marketing for the university in the line with agriculture.

In an interview with Hon. Dr. George Didi Bhoka, the Member of Parliament for Obongi constituency, who doubles as the Chairperson Board of directors Nile University, the restructuring happening at Nile University is to provide a platform for affordable university education for West Nilers.
We are in a concurrent engineering mode where on one hand we are cleaning our house and ensuring the supply side factors are in place as we move out to create demand. Strategic marketing is one of the issues we have prioritized and we need to ensure that our products are well packaged and meet or exceed the expectations of the market.

We want to be perceived as a university of the poor, for the common man, the common woman, in West Nile. Many of our children cannot compete to go to public universities because of the very high entry requirements. So we need a plan B for West Nile and the pan B is Nile University.
Nile University currently has over 40 staff members running the university with a board of Directors and the new university governing council.

History of Nile University
Nile University was founded as an Independent Private University in the northwestern region of Uganda. It is situated in the former Arua District and the current Arua city in West Nile region, with the aim of promoting quality education, academic excellence, professional practice, and integral growth and development.

The history of Nile University dates as far back as 1860’s when St. Daniel Comboni had a plan of starting a University with four learning Centers in the Equatorial region and along the various coasts of Africa. In 1994 Fr. Adiga Nakari Cyril a Master’s Degree program student at Makerere University conceived and initiated the idea of establishing a University in Arua – West Nile region in partial fulfillment of Bishop Daniel Comboni’s idea of promoting University Education in the equatorial region and also in order to remember and honor him.

In the year 1995, he kick-started the initial idea with consultations and discussions which he carried out widely among his close friends, professionals, Technocrats and among other experts in the field of education whom he thought could share this vision and support it. 
On 6th Nov.2002, Nile University was registered with the Registrar of Companies as a legal entity under the Company’s Act (Cap.85) of the Laws of the Republic of Uganda.

On 23rd August 2003, Nile University began its academic year that registered 56 students with the aim of promoting quality education, academic excellence, professional practice, and integral growth and development. On 22nd January 2004, Nile University was granted Interim Authority period of four (4) years by National Council for Higher Education.

On 23rd September 2008 Nile University signed first Memorandum of Understanding with Uganda Martyrs University for affiliation and to have its academic programs accredited by Uganda Martyrs University. This Memorandum of Understanding was meant to prepare Nile University for accreditation and develop its own Academic programs for accreditation by National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) in accordance with the provisions stipulated in the Universities and other Tertiary Institutions Act.

On 26th March 2010, Nile University was affiliated and accredited to Uganda Martyrs University as a Campus  by National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) in accordance with the provisions stipulated in the Universities and other Tertiary Institutions Act 6th April 2001 amended in 2003 (Article 111) following its inspection on 12th January 2010. On 13th August 2010, Nile University Campus signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Uganda Martyrs University to regularize the relationship between the two Institutions.  

The choice to affiliate and accredit Nile University to Uganda Martyrs University was purposefully done based on the conviction that Uganda Martyrs University’s credibility and experience in University affairs coupled with its capacity to mentor could have helped to give a sense of direction to Nile University as required by the National Council for Higher Education in Uganda to propel Nile University to its full independence and autonomy.  
National Council of Higher Education at its 44th Meeting of 28th August 2017 granted Nile University Letter of Interim Authority for a period of Three years (2017 – 2020).

The University is located in Arua City in the North West of Uganda 5km from Arua on the Arua – Rhino camp road on a 32.1 acre piece of land.

COVER PHOTO: A Signpost of Nile University By Godwin Abedican