ISLAMABAD – About 11-member delegation from Nigeria’s Sokoto State University on Monday visited AllamaI qbal Open University (AIOU) and signed a memorandum of understanding for developing cooperative partnership in the field of research and professional development. The MoU was signed by Sokoto University Vice Chancellor Professor Nuhu O Yaqub and AIOU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Shahid Siddiqui at a ceremony that was also attended by the academicians from both the sides. The Nigerian delegation comprising senior professors appreciated the AIOU’s efforts of providing affordable quality education to country’s big population (1.3 million) through distance learning system. The Nigerian side accepted DrSiddiqui’s offer of jointly organising a international conference on social sciences next year. The two Universities, under the MoU, will develop a framework of collaboration in the area of science, technology, humanity and capacity development. They will exchange variety of educational programs to promote knowledge and technical know-how for the benefit of their students. It was decided that they will specially focus on conducting research-based study in the areas of common interest. The MoU also covered a mechanism for exchange of visits by students and faculty members to each other universities. The delegation that included Deputy VC Prof Malami Buba and Registrar Amina G Yusuf visited various departments of the university including Institute of Educational Technology and Print and Production Unit. They evinced keen interest in the Accessibility Centre set up at Central Library for visually impaired students. On arrival, Dr Shahid Siddiqui briefed the delegation on University’s academic activities and the initiatives taken recently for its professional development. In-charge International collaboration department Zahid Majeed gave a presentation on the university’s overall working. Registrar Dr Muhammad Naeem Qureshi was also present on the occasion.