AE-FUNAI SENATE APPROVES NEW DEGREE PROGRAMMES TO MEET NATIONAL NEEDS
The Senate of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike has approved a fresh set of academic programmes aimed at expanding opportunities for students and addressing critical skills gaps in Nigeria.
The approval, given at the Senate’s 87th Regular Meeting on Tuesday, June 3, 2026, covers new degree courses spread across the Faculties of Arts, Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Health and Allied Sciences, Management Sciences, and Social Sciences. All programmes will take effect after resource verification and approval by the National Universities Commission.
The Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of Senate, Prof. Daniel Nwachukwu, said the new courses were designed to respond to urgent needs in healthcare, urban development, environmental protection, and the digital economy.
“We are positioning AE-FUNAI to train professionals who will lead Nigeria’s urban renewal, healthcare delivery, biodiversity conservation, and hospitality industry
“Each programme was chosen for its direct impact on community well-being, economic growth, and the Sustainable Development Goals”, Prof. Nwachukwu stated.
The new courses include Hotel Management and Tourism; Zoology, Environmental Biology, and Plant Science and Biotechnology; Urban and Regional Planning, Estate Management, Surveying and Geoinformatics.
Others are Quantity Surveying; Physiotherapy, Optometry, Medical Radiography, Marketing, Social Work, and Library and Information Science.
Prof. Nwachukwu explained that the expansion will create more admission opportunities for young Nigerians seeking specialized, high-demand disciplines, adding that courses in Environmental Biology, Plant Science and Biotechnology, and Surveying and Geoinformatics will strengthen research in climate resilience, food security, and smart city planning, while the new health programmes will boost clinical research and rural outreach.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that programmes such as Social Work and Urban and Regional Planning will produce graduates equipped to address poverty, rapid urbanization, and social inclusion. Hotel Management and Tourism, he said, will enhance Ebonyi State’s capacity to harness its cultural and ecotourism potential.
He further stated that Quantity Surveying, Estate Management, Marketing, and Library and Information Science were developed in line with current labour market demands, improving graduate employability in real estate, commerce, and knowledge management.
To support the rollout, the university has committed to upgrading laboratories, clinics, studios, and field stations, while recruiting qualified staff to meet NUC standards. Partnerships with regulatory bodies and professional associations are already underway to ensure proper accreditation and industry input.
“AE-FUNAI remains focused on excellence, ethics, and service. These new programmes reaffirm our mandate to produce globally competitive graduates who will solve local problems”, Prof. Nwachukwu said.
