By Amaechi Agbo and Chiekezie Emmanuel

As Part of its strategic plans to promote experiential learning, the management of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) on Monday hosted a delegation of Qatar-based technology company, Vertex Labs, for the establishment world-class Artificial Intelligence Centre

Vertex Labs is a global player with heavy investment in advanced digital technologies and application of AI

In his opening remark on behalf of Vertex Labs, the leader of the delegation, Abdulaziz Alichag, accompanied by the company’s Director of Technology, Mohammed Rasheed Alshammari and Director of Innovation, Sampson Eneje, said the visit was aimed at assessing the University’s facilities and engaging with management on how to strengthen their partnership with a view to making the collaboration efficient and effective

Alichag expressed satisfaction with the infrastructure and level of preparedness at ESUT, describing the University as well-positioned for the successful take-off of the AI Centre. He also commended the University’s Management for its passion, vision and commitment to the project.

He explained that the partnership would expose students to cutting-edge AI technologies, equipping them with the skills and innovative capacity needed to address real-world challenges. He added that leading AI professors from different parts of the world would participate in the initiative through knowledge transfer programmes and a specialised platform to be jointly developed by Vertex Labs and ESUT.

“Our coming here is to share our thoughts with you on how to build a real environment for the students to get the best results, especially now we are bringing the best professors of AI from different universities, either the universities in Qatar or outside the UK, Spain, America, different countries, to teach this academic programme to the students here. And step by step, we will also develop by expanding the number of professors we have, by collaborating with some universities in Qatar or worldwide, to bring the best practice to the university here.

“It’s not only the programme that we will manage also the dream that we create a model that will be followed later on, either in the country or on the other countries in Africa.” he said.

According to him, the collaboration will have far-reaching benefits across critical sectors, including education, technology, innovation and economic development.

Receiving the delegation in his office alongside members of the University’s Management, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, said the proposed AI Centre would strengthen the experiential learning model being championed by the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah.

Professor Okolie disclosed that AI education would be integrated into the University’s curriculum as a compulsory course across all disciplines to ensure that every ESUT graduate acquires practical knowledge of artificial intelligence, irrespective of his or her field of study.

He explained that the practical nature of the programme would produce globally competitive graduates while also supporting the Enugu State Government’s Smart Green School initiative. He assured the visiting team of ESUT’s commitment to implementing the partnership with transparency, integrity and professionalism.

According to the Vice Chancellor, the AI Centre is envisioned to serve not only Enugu State but the entire South-East Region as a flagship hub for artificial intelligence research, innovation and capacity development. He added that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has already identified ESUT as the institution to champion the establishment of an AI Centre in the South-East.

Professor Okolie further revealed that ESUT has secured the approval of the National Universities Commission (NUC) to run programmes that will support the proposed collaboration. He also noted that the Enugu State Government has approved the use of the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) Digital Bridge Institute in Enugu as the temporary base for the AI Centre.

Earlier, the Director of Academic Planning, (DPP) Professor Chike Anibeze, said the University would utilize the 30 per cent curriculum flexibility permitted by the NUC to incorporate AI-related courses across academic programmes.

He explained that a University-wide committee would be constituted to integrate recommendations from Vertex Labs into the curriculum before forwarding the revised programmes to the NUC for approval, in line with ESUT’s vision of producing globally competitive graduates.

In his vote of thanks, the Registrar of ESUT, Mr Ambrose Ugwu, appreciated the Vertex Labs delegation for the visit and reaffirmed the University’s commitment to implementing the partnership in accordance with the agreed terms.

It could be reclled that ESUT delegation led by the Vice-Chancellor were equally in Doha, Qatar in June , 2026 to initiate the partnership agreement.

Highlight of the visits was inspection of critical infrastructure in ESUT by the Qatar delegation