It was a great pleasure to welcome the first group of Nigerians to UFV on Monday (31st) (TETfund). One of 71 Nigerian students doing Master’s courses remotely under Agricultural Research and Innovation Fellowship for Africa (ARIFA). Dr. Demetrius David da Silva greeted the students and recalled the University’s history, emphasizing its commitment to offering international students “the best in our graduate programs.”
As the pioneer of ARIFA in Brazil, UFV has recently approached other Brazilian higher education institutions to join the program, allowing Nigerians to study at UFG, UFLA, UNESP, and UNIFEI presently.
Nneka Vivian Iduu, a Master’s student in the subject of Agricultural Microbiology, is one of the Program’s original participants. She has previously finished three academic semesters of graduate courses at UFV via distance learning, and she arrived at the Viçosa campus last week to meet with the institution’s researchers and to make use of all of the facilities available.
The student, speaking on behalf of the Nigerians in the program, stated that her time at the university had greatly aided her studying. She praised the opportunity to work at UFV and finally meet everyone participating in the Program’s activities as well as the University’s research facilities in person. Nneka acknowledged her adviser, Professor Hilário Cuqueto Mantovani, as well as the Director of International Relations, Vladimir Di Iorio, and the UFV Ambassadors students.
In addition, the Master’s student wishes that more graduate students in her nation have the opportunity to participate in this important program. Arthur Wakim Enrici, a biochemistry student and UFV Ambassador, said the goal is to best support postgraduate students during their stays at the university, aiding with their doubts, facilitating integration and sharing of cultural and academic experiences. His team of ambassadors is “absolutely willing” to “present the best of the University and Brazil”, he reminded them due to the covid-19 pandemic.
Vladimir Di Iorio, Director of International Relations and member of the partnership’s Governance Committee, says the UFV program has been a success despite the hurdles provided by the covid-19 pandemic.
Other groups of Nigerian Masters students are scheduled to join the University in the near future.
Raul Narciso Guedes, Dean of Research and Graduate Studies (PPG), and Murilo Zerbini, PPG special adviser and ARIFA Brazil Governance Committee delegate, also attended the reception.
They emphasized the value of collaboration with FARA and TETfund in internationalizing UFV postgraduate programs and developing research in Africa and Brazil.
Source: UFV
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