This collection reflects Michigan State University’s involvement in the establishment of a university in Nigeria.

In 1955, the Eastern House of Assembly in Nigeria approved an act establishing the University of Nigeria. According to the legislation, this university would be a new type of institution for higher education in the country with a purpose “to (1) Hold forth to all classes and communities whatsoever an encouragement for pursuing a regular and liberal education, (2) To promote research and the advancement of science and learning, and (3) To organize, improve and extend education of a university standard.”

The United States Agency for International Development (AID) gave the University of Nigeria a gift of one million dollars which provided for the building of the Continuing Education Center at Nsukka. This center was built with the intent to function as the heart of the University’s extension program serving not only Nigeria but people from East and West Africa as well.

In 1956, through AID and British contacts, Michigan State University showed interest into entering into a cooperative relationship of some sort with the University. In 1957, through the International Cooperation Administration, MSU President John Hannah visited with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Premier of the Eastern Region to discuss such a relationship. Through these discussions came the establishment of the MSU-ICA Advisory group. This group would provide assistance through MSU faculty and staff in developing a university rooted in African life. MSU advisors each served two-year assignments in Nigeria. The scope of the project, from the group’s perspective, was multi-faceted:

A. To develop a University with capabilities for, 1. Meeting the pressing needs of the region in which it is located, i.e. capable of relating broad research and teaching areas of the institution to the solution of problems of the community, and of extending the available knowledge to the Nigerian people so that they can use it as fully as possible to advance their own welfare. 2. Providing a curriculum in the sciences, arts, education, agriculture, home economics, engineering, business and public services that is complimentary to these phases of higher education already available or planned at other Nigerian institutions was to put the services of higher education to the fullest possible use in meeting the most pressing needs of the people of Nigeria for their political, economic and social advancement. 3. Demonstrating the adaptation of the most suitable elements of British, American (Land-Grant College approach) and other experience with higher education to meet the particular needs of Nigeria at its present stage of development.

B. To enable an average of 10 Nigerians a year to prepare themselves for teaching at the University with the view in mind that the University should and will be staffed in the main by Nigerian scholars.

C. To increase Nigeria’s potential for providing higher education opportunities by 3,000 students (anticipated planned enrollment at the end of the three years after opening the University).

The university closed temporarily with the outbreak of Civil War in Nigeria on July 7, 1967.