FEATURED NEWS
Kalu Hands Over To Ohale As New IITD Director
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- Published: 22 June 2021
By Ethel Timi-Johnson
Following the completion of his four-year tenure, Professor Sylva Kalu has handed over to Professor Lawrence Ohale as new Director of the Institute of International Trade and Development. Speaking during a brief handover ceremony at the Institute, Professor Kalu disclosed that his tenure introduced a post graduate Diploma which was specifically designed to offer interdisciplinary theoretical foundation for students seeking to enroll in the Master of Science degree programme of the Institute. “This is in addition to developing and expanding the Institute's Masters programme in the following areas of specialisation which includes Customs Administration and Border Management, Ports Management and Maritime Administration, Shipping and Maritime Security in response to the demand for professional manpower and in fulfillment of the Institute's core mandate of grooming high level human capital to fill the manpower gap in relevant sectors of the economy,’’ he said. Professor Kalu noted that the Institute had its maiden graduation ceremony in 2019 with a total number of nine graduands. He added that a total of 19 candidates applied for the 2019/2020 academic session for both the PhD and Masters programme of the Institute. “To make our Institute more visible, we adopted a digital marketing strategy. A Facebook page has been launched for the Institute. Other internet facilities, twitter and instagram also further advertise the institute,” the immediate past Director said, reiterating that he made a mark in achieving the major objectives of the Institute in the last four years. Responding, the newly-appointed Director, Professor Ohale of the Department of Economics, stressed the need to move the Institute to another level. He described his appointment as an opportunity to add value. “I want to thank the pioneer Director, Professor Augustus Gbosi for bringing the Institution to existence. “I want to thank my predecessors firstly Professor Gbosi for the efforts he made to establish the Institute in the Department of Economics and secondly, Professor Kalu who worked very hard to keep the Institute going. The challenge is on us to ensure that we sustain the activities of the Institute and make it an attractive brand that would compete globally,” he remarked, promising to work in harmony with staff to make great changes in the Institute.
