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Varsity urges Ebonyi to complete road project, wade into land dispute

The newly constituted Governing Council of Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI) has urged the state authorities to complete the 18-kilometres road leading to the school and pledged to wade into the land..
Umahi

Umahi

The newly constituted Governing Council of Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI) has urged the state authorities to complete the 18-kilometres road leading to the school and pledged to wade into the land acquisition for the University and payment of compensation to the landowners.

The council made the plea during a courtesy visit to the Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, an engineer at the Government House, Abakaliki, where they among other things condoled him on the death of his mother and asked for more partnership between the State Government and the University.

The Council took time out to pay a The Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Mba Uzoukwo, who spoke on behalf of the Council prayed the Governor to expedite action on the relocation of the indigenes in the university land to avoid their competing for space and future clash between them.

He also pleaded with Ebonyi State Government to complete the 18-km road leading to the school as visitors would soon be streaming to the school for its first convocation.

He also asked for the reticulation of the Oferekpe Megawater scheme to the school as well as linking the already stringed electricity line of the university to the national grid through the Itigidi-Abakaliki line and land for the University’s liaison office and pre-degree progamme in Abakaliki.

The Pro-Chancellor said the University would partner with the State in its agro-business programme especially as regards local cattle breeding and poultry production, and lauded the infrastructural development of the young state under Governor Umahi.
Responding, Governor Umahi thanked them for the visit and for identifying with his family in time of grief and assured that they State would assist the University in every ramification.

Governor Umahi directed the Commissioner for Lands to within seven days furnish him with the status of land acquisition for the University and payment of compensation so as to relocate the indigenes in the University premises.

The Governor promised to allocate land for the University’s liaison office as well as donate the present College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS) of Ebonyi State University to FUNAI for its pre-degree progammes when they vacate in the next few months.
He also assured that Ebonyi State Government would assist the Faculty of Engineering to take off the ground in view of its importance in the development of the state, promising also to make a personal endowment for the Faculty.

In a vote of thanks, the Vice Chancellor, thanked the Governor for agreeing to meet them at a short notice and for the promises he made to the University and assured that the institution would reciprocate the gesture by contributing its quota in the development of the state.

He commended the vibrancy of the Governor, noting that the infrastrastural facilities he is putting on ground would outlast his administration.

Meanwhile, the Governing Council held its maiden meeting, the 4th Council Meeting, recently at the University Permanent site. The meeting was presided over by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Professor Mba Uzoukwu, with the Vice Chancellor, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba and other council members in attendance. They include: Professor Michael Omolewa, Rabiu Ibrahim, Dr. Joy Chukwureh-Offor, Professor Austin Chukwu, Professor Michael Onuu, Professor Matthew Edoga, Professor Victoria Chiboka. Others include Dr. Smart Otu, Dr. Henry Aloh and Mr. G. O. Chukwu who is the Registrar and Secretary to the Council.

It would be recalled that the FUNAI Governing Council was inaugurated along other eleven Universities on Tuesday, 1st May, 2016 at the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja by the Honorable Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu who noted that the inauguration marked another milestone in President Mohammadu Buhari administration’s effort to turn around the fortunes of Nigeria’s tertiary education by appointing credible men and women into their councils.

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