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During a recent visit to Michigan State University with a delegation from University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Vice Chancellor Prof. Charles Igwe sat down with AAP communications intern Jayden Hewitt to discuss the history between the two institutions, building international partnerships, and connecting with Nigerian students in East Lansing.The following conversation has been lightly edited for clarity.   Jayden: Firstly, welcome to MSU! How has your experience been at Michigan State so far? Prof Igwe: It's been very exciting to be here. And it's a visit I have looked forward to making for some years now (to) get into MSU. The mother of (the) University of Nigeria. Yes, MSU is the mother of the University of Nigeria, the inception of that university (happening) in 1960. Yeah, so I feel very excited to be at Michigan State University.Jayden: What has inspired the University of Nigeria Nsukka to join the Alliance of African Partnership consortium? Prof. Igwe: Well, like I said earlier about MSU, as a university midwife to University of Nigeria, and looking at the programs of AAP gives us the inspiration that we're going to, you know, make things happen through our collaboration with AAP. And it did, because I still remember with nostalgia, that during COVID, I had a conference with some members of AAP, and we discussed this issue, because the university was totally closed down during COVID. And it was during one of our conferences that we devised this idea of having what I call what, you know, the blended teaching that we can do some work from home and combine it with physical teaching, (during) the COVID pandemic of those days, and, and we thank God that really ended. Yeah, but we (got some) ideas through that collaboration by adopting blended teaching.Jayden: In terms of challenges, what do you perceive as the biggest hurdles in international collaborations like this, and how do you propose to overcome them? Prof. Igwe: Of course, we had to cover some of (the) lost ground. Because it would have been a total system failure, if we had not adopted that kind of blended teaching and tried to do most of the work from home, and teaching. Even meetings. I still remember the first council board meeting we had, you know, some people coming from some 100 kilometers away. We were able to stay meeting, some people were staying on record, but limited, say 1000 kilometers away.Jayden: Building bridges between institutions is crucial for the development of global education. What specific outcomes are you hoping to achieve from this visit to MSU, and in the partnership as a whole? Prof Igwe: Yeah, our own idea, then was to learn new ideas, (and learn) how to interact with colleagues in different areas of endeavor. Learn new things, you know, exchange ideas, and creativity (with) our students.Jayden: Networking and partnerships can significantly benefit students and faculty. Can you discuss any planned initiatives or programs that will directly impact the student bodies at both UNN and MSU? Prof. Igwe: You can see a number of our post-grad graduates and postgraduate students are here. When interacting with some of our postgraduate students who are now, you know, students of this university, at MSU. And of course, from the experience, they said, everything is going fine. And that it was a worthwhile stay at Nsukka. And somebody told us there, while we were interacting, that it was a goal for (an) MSU student who was coming to do some months in Africa. And that was how we got to that. He virtually collected his application, physically from UNN to MSU. Yeah, so it’s (a) worthwhile collaboration and networking (opportunity).Jayden: You mentioned meeting some students here at MSU. What was that like to see them here? Prof. Igwe: Fantastic! Because I keep telling them that internet tribalism is a universal business. You don't complain that you don't know this, just because in some parts of the world, having an opportunity to study at MSU exposes our students to (some of the best) international practices.Jayden: The AAP consortium is known for its emphasis on collaborative research. Are there any particular areas of research where you see potential for joint projects between UNN and MSU through AAP? Prof. Igwe: Yes, I see future collaboration in the areas of agriculture, which MSU is known for, the land grant system, which UNN really copied. Because we are also the first university in Sub Saharan Africa, to adopt the land grant system. And we also think about other areas like agribusiness, like in medicine, medical sciences. I can see one of my faculties in nursing, taking a degree program in nursing here. So these are the areas even in industrial packaging, understand that MSU is fantastic in industrial packaging. And in sports I went to your (MSU’s) sports facilities the other day, and I said, ‘oh wow’, no wonder in the early stages of University of Nigeria, why we’re all collecting all the medals in track and field events. Yeah. MSU’s known for sports. So there are so many, so many things to learn from MSU!Jayden: Looking towards the future, how do you envision the relationship between UNN and MSU and other consortium members evolving over the next five or so years within the AAP framework? Prof. Igwe: I see an expanded relationship. And there's a relationship that we get, you know, so expanded (and) involved in a number of programs, academic programs. And even, for instance, I came here with the person that is in charge of day to day running of our accounting system, I want her to learn from MSU experience. So I see our future relationship (as one) that will incorporate all fields of endeavor.Jayden: Sustainable development goals are increasingly becoming a focus for educational institutions worldwide. How do UNN, MSU and other members, through the consortium, plan to address these goals? Prof. Igwe: Yeah of course, the sustainable development of what is really known, that world transformed from Millennium development, to sustainable development and global sustainable development goals, is becoming a very common thing. Because we're looking at, you know, the areas of climate change initiative, and all the rest of them, a number of if we mentioned agriculture, we'll find out that even agriculture has been affected by the climate change, for myself to adopt new ideas, and, you know, then some other areas. I mean, some other ways of mitigating climate change, so that they will be able to increase, increase yield, and cut down on agricultural losses. Jayden: Partnerships often hinge on shared goals and values. In what ways do UNN and MSU's visions for the future align, especially in the context of the AAP consortium? Prof. Igwe: We're going to learn a lot from MSU, because I think they are already very deep into the story of sustainable development goals, especially in the areas of natural resources development.Jayden: What are some things that you feel, from your experience that you're going to bring from UNN, not only to the partnership here at MSU, but the consortium as a whole? Prof. Igwe: We have most of our areas that are quite underdeveloped. And we have a lot to learn from our petroleum industry, from our engineering, and from geology and from agriculture in Sub Saharan Africa, you know, it needs to be studied. Absolutely. So it needs studied and know different ways of trying to improve yield, increase yield, which is going to be of benefit to mankind.Jayden: What are some goals that you all at UNN have? And what are some things that you can bring over to MSU? Prof. Igwe: In Nigeria, it makes it possible for us, you know, our population, our population is mainly almost 70% of our population is made up of youth. And these youths can contribute a lot. Both economic and educational development. So we have humans, and we have natural resources. And we have ideas, especially in the area of natural resources.