500 CHINESE COMPANIES IS SET TO EMPLOY UNIZIK GRADUATES IN MAY.[PHOTO}.

       500 top Chinese companies will storm Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka in May in a bid to recruit graduands from the Confucius institute.

This was announced by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph E. Ahaneku, FAS during pre convocation press briefing to mark the 12th Convocation of the institution.

Prof. Ahaneku explained that the University has already started counting her blessings from the establishment of Confucius Institute in the institution. He further disclosed that over 200 UNIZIK students are currently in China on scholarship.

The Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that as part of the "hands-on" being preached by the university, the department of Industrial Production Engineering of the University has commenced production of six plastics items including cups, bowls and trays.

He also stated that the institution through its women cooperative society had started the production of quality bread and other confectioneries.

According to him, these conscious efforts are to further project the institution as an entrepreneurial university.

“Time has come to demonstrate our capabilities and skills to help students embrace the 21st century research that will launch them into the society after graduation.

“It was not rocket science. You do not talk science if you do not practice it.

“The items are produced using local materials and the machines used have been adjudged to be the best in the Western African Sub-region,” Ahaneku said.

He said the institution had also opened its doors to expose its students on three key areas of `agro-preneur, entrepreneur and trans-preneur’.

“For instance, the institution has widened its teaching to study German, Spanish and Chinese languages and has begun collaboration to establish Igbo classes in institutions of foreign partners.

“The only thing that will help us as an institution is to define our areas of strength,” he said.

He said that total of 7,731 graduands would be awarded with various degrees while 54 graduands would be awarded with first class certificates.

Ahaneku said the institution would also confer honorary degrees on some distinguished Nigerians namely Sen. Ben Ndi Obi, Alhaji Sani Zango Daura, and Chief Jacob Wood, a Chinese business administrator based in Nigeria.Meanwhile, the interdenominational service billed to kick start the convocation ceremonies held yesterday at the University auditorium. This will be preceded today by the presentation of prizes to the Best Graduating Students at the University auditorium by 12 noon.