COOU and NAU Capacity Building Engagement Workshop

The Nigerian team of the DESIRED Project from COOU and NAU held a successful Capacity Building workshop on 5th November 2025 at the Vice-Chancellor’s Conference Room, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU).

The workshop brought together project team members from Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) and COOU to discuss progress on tasks and Strategies to ensure DESIRED task accomplishment within project timeline for Enhancing Employability of Accounting Graduates in Nigeria by Integrating Employability Skills into Accounting Education using the Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Approach.

Welcoming the team, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha, FNIPR, expressed COOU’s commitment and readiness to contribute fully to the success of the research endeavour and all subsequent activities. This, she said, will be done through the support from the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and EU portal administrative inputs upon request.

Speaking at the workshop, Prof. Anthony Nnedum, main contact Person of NAU Lead beneficiary and NAU Director, Directorate of Quality Assurance and Certificate Verification, highlighted the purpose of the gathering, while Dr. Chukwunonso Ekesiobi, COOU’s Project Research Lead, noted that this was the first of many engagements to ensure synergy among the Nigerian partners. He also emphasised the presence of Prof. Sunday Anichebe (Head, Department of Accounting) and Prof. Gabriel Nkechukwu (Head, Banking and Finance) as key stakeholders from focal department and enjoined them to ensure active student participation in the DESIRED Project.

The Workshop, which forms part of the project Work Package implementation, particularly as regards Project Management & Coordination, covered stakeholder engagement, project localisation, and preparation for the forthcoming session with Prof. David Katamba. The workshop also looked at all the project work packages and deliverables, and agreed on the Strategic course of action for implementation by both universities ahead of the scheduled meeting. It was resolved that an official report of the workshop proceedings and resolutions will be submitted accordingly to the DESIRED Project general coordinator.

Both universities concluded with a resolve of working to be a part of strengthening accounting education, industry engagement, and graduate employability through innovation and collaboration.

Attendees included:

Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) Project Research Team:

Prof. Obiajulu Anthony Ugochukwu Nnedum,
Prof. Gloria Ogochukwu Okafor,
And
NAU Industrial Attachment Staff: Dr Jerome Ezisi.

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) Project Research Team:
Dr. Chukwunonso Ekesiobi,
Dr. Udoka Bernard Alajekwu,
Dr. Cosmas Anayochukwu Nwankwo
And COOU Staff:
Head of Accounting Department: Prof. Sunday Anichebe
Head of Finance Department: Prof. Gabriel Nkechukwu.