Participants are responsible for their travel to and from Abuja, accommodation, extra meals, and any other hotel expenses (laundry, phone calls, secretarial services, etc.) incurred during their stay in Abuja. Only group lunches, tea/coffee breaks on conference days and official receptions/dinners are covered by the conference registration fee. The AAU, the University of Abuja and the University of Ilorin will not assume responsibility for any unpaid bills.
TRAVEL
Participants are to note that there are direct international flights to Abuja and also several connections from Lagos Domestic Airport. Upon arrival at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos, you must proceed to the Domestic Airport (about 10 mins drive) for the flight to Abuja.
Nationals of virtually all countries require a visa to enter Nigeria (the few exceptions are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo).
Visas must be obtained in advance and all visitors require a return ticket, documents for onward travel and sufficient funds.
Passports must be valid of at least six months upon arrival.
HEALTH AND MEDICAL SERVICES
When travelling to Nigeria, an international vaccination certificate against yellow fever is required. A Cholera vaccination certification is also required if coming from an infected area. As a precaution against cholera, visitors should drink or use only boiled or bottled water. Anti-malaria prophylaxis and TB inoculation are recommended. Visitors should seek the latest medical advice on inoculations at least three weeks prior to departure
In major cities, private hospitals and clinics offer good facilities. Costs for medical services or hospital care must be borne by the traveller.
AIRPORT TRANSFERS
The Conference Secretariat will be arranging complementary airport transfers for delegates from the Abuja International Airport to the conference hotels. Departure transfers will also be arranged. The complementary transfers will be effective over the period May 3 – 10, 2009.
Participants are kindly requested to inform the Local Organising Committee of their flight schedules to facilitate this arrangement. Please note that failure to notify the LOC will mean that your airport transfer cannot be guaranteed.
The Liaison Officer from the University of Ilorin, based in Lagos will have a desk at the Murtala Mohamed Airport in Lagos to assist participants. Please contact Mrs. S.A. Oroge, +234 802 3135338, saoroge@unilorin.edu.ng , adeoroge@yahoo.com
WEATHER AND CLIMATE
Abuja enjoys warm tropical climate with hot and humid weather all year round. Average monthly high temperatures in Abuja vary from 30 to 40 degrees Celsius. May falls in the wet season, which begins from April and ends in October. Daytime temperatures reach 28-30 degrees and night time lows hover around 22-23 degrees.
TIME
GMT + 1
CONFERENCE VENUE
The Conference will be held at the Abuja International Conference Centre
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation has been arranged at the following hotels. Participants should please note that all accommodation requests should be sent to the Local Organising Committee in Abuja.
1. NICON LUXURY HOTEL (Next to the Conference Centre)
Herbert Macaulay Way, Central Business District, Abuja
Tel: +234 9 234 2002 / 234 2818
Fax: + 234 9 461 9009
Eml: reservations@niconluxury.com
Room rate: Naira 19,800 (inclusive of 10% service charge and 5% VAT)
Contact: Gloria Adamu
Tel: +234 803 4504707
2. AFRI HOTEL
Plot 281, Herbert Macaulay Way, Central Business District, Abuja
Tel: +234 9 6279724 – 7 / 9 6706245
Room rate: Royal – US$56; Deluxe – US$69; Ambassador – US$92
(inclusive of 10% service charge and 5% VAT).
The rates are for room only
Contact: Mr. Sam Akonu
Cell: +234 803 330 7856
Eml: saniakonu@yahoo.co.uk
3. Rockview Hotel
Plots 194/196, Cad Zone A8, Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II,
P.O. Box 5879, Garki, Abuja
Tel: +234 9 413 0041-50 / 413 0093-102 / 413 0168-75
Fax: +234 9 461 2829 / 4162830
Eml: rockview_reservations@yahoo.com / info@rockviewhotelsltd.com
Flat rate for the rooms are: Classic 15,000 Naira ($100)
Royal 20,000 Naira (approximately $134)
(inclusive of 10% service charge and 5% VAT)
Contact: Mr. Shadrack Omasagba Tel: (Cell) +234 805 508 5114
Participants may also contact these hotels directly to make their room reservations.
PLEASE NOTE THAT
A. THESE HOTELS REQUIRE THAT RESERVATIONS BE CONFIRMED BEFORE 15TH OF MARCH 2009 AFTER WHICH, DATE ACCOMMODATION CANNOT BE GUARANTEED.
B. THE ROOM RATES INDICATED ABOVE ARE BED ONLY EXCEPT NICON LUXURY HOTEL WHICH INCLUDES BREAKFAST.
TRANSPORT
Transport will be provided to convey participants from their hotels to the Conference Centre and back and also for all social programmes.
REGISTRATION
In addition to online or any other form of registration prior to the Conference, participants are expected to register personally for the Conference on site, at the Information Desk in the foyer of the International Conference Centre on Sunday May 3, 2009 from 09.00 to 18.00 and Monday May 4, 2009 from 08.00 to 09.00.
Voting cards will be distributed during registration. Participants from AAU member institutions should kindly note that only ONE card will be given per EACH institution IN GOOD STANDING (with subscription arrears of not more than two (2) years. Should the Executive Head of a member institution not attend the Conference in person, the card will be issued to the accredited representative of that institution.
WORKING LANGUAGES
The working languages of the Conference will be English, French and Arabic. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided during all plenary sessions of the Conference.
CONFERENCE DOCUMENTS
Hard copies of the main conference documents will be distributed to participants during registration in Abuja. Before the conference, the documents will be loaded on to the AAU Conference website, to which only registered and paid up participants will have access.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE
The monetary unit of Nigeria is the Naira and the current approximate exchange rate is Naira 150 to US$1.00. Assistance with currency conversions can be found on the following website: http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic. Foreign currencies and traveller’s cheques can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change, airports & major hotels in Nigeria at the official exchange rates.
American Express, Diners Club, Master and Visa cards are widely accepted in Nigeria. Participants should check with their credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability in Nigeria. ATMs are widely available.
International traveller’s cheques in Pounds Sterling, Euro and US Dollars are widely accepted.
ELECTRICITY
240 volts. AC 50Hz. Round and square three-pin plugs are used.
BANKS
The banking hours are from 8.00am. – 4.00pm from Monday to Friday. A few banks operate on Saturdays.
The Hotels have ATM facilities, which participants can use.
BUSINESS HOURS
8.00 am – 5.00 pm Monday to Friday for public offices.
8.00 am – 10.00 pm daily for private offices.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Adequate arrangements have been made for the safety and security of participants
INDEMNITY
The Association of African Universities, the University of Abuja and the University Ilorin and other service providers related to this conference will not be held responsible for any physical loss or damage in respect of any liability, loss, claim or proceedings whatsoever, whether these claims arise in common law or by statute, consequent on personal injuries to or the death of any person whatsoever arising out of, or in the course of any action, or caused by any acts of the above mentioned parties or their staff members. Delegates are advised to make their own insurance arrangements.
FURTHER INFORMATION CAN BE PROVIDED TO YOU BY THE AAU AND THE LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEES AT THE ADDRESSES BELOW:
CONTACT PERSON: MRS. ALIDA BAETA
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL
TEL: +233 244 36 5169 (Cell)
EML: abaeta@aau.org
LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE
CONTACT PERSONS:
DR. ABUBAKAR BAFETO
CO-SECRETARY, LOC
UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA
TEL: +234 805 4271728
EML: bafetoaliyu@yahoo.com
MR. KAYODE FAKOYA
CO-SECRETARY, LOC
UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN
TEL: +234 803 4663770
EML: k_fakoya@yahoo.com
MRS. S.A. OROGE
MEMBER LOC UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN
SA TO VICE-CHANCELLOR
TEL: +234 802 3135338
EML: saoroge@unilorin.edu.ng
adeoroge@yahoo.com
