The world’s next Bill Gates is in Yola, says AUN President

Here is an excerpt from an interview with President of American University of Nigeria, Yola, Dr. Margee Ensign as culled from Premium times

At AUN, we are trying our best. We are built on the solid foundation of accountability and transparency. We have just finished the largest building in this part of the world. We gave everybody the chance to bid for the job. All the bids were opened in a transparent manner, and we chose the best quality and the lowest price. It’s been interesting trying to lay down those markers in every way. It is important that everyone has to be accountable. That’s the way we do every other thing in our system.
We have a code of conduct that every of our students signs. We have just finished the pledge ceremony, where we pledged honesty and integrity to each other.

We are really trying to change what we do everyday, and it’s working; and that’s what is encouraging. That is what the young people want. They want to work in an environment where everyone is accountable to so much standard when we come together. It’s not easy, but it can happen. I have worked in other countries and continents, and I have seen how things work.
Like Rwanda, where I worked for several years, there was so much corruption and genocide that was devastating the economy at a time. Now, the, authorities are leading the way in transparency and international ranking.
In situations like that, the worst you can do with each other is to come back and see how you can deal with it and lead in economic growth and transformation. And it has to happen in Nigeria, because of the position it occupies in Africa.
I tell my students that in less than ten years you will be the leaders of the third largest country in the world. India and China slipped and are coming back. So, this is the moment where the press, and the young leaders, should begin to make positive changes and contributions to Nigeria. So, it’s an honour to be with you; to encourage you to keep up the good work.

for full interview got o Premium times