The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, mni MFR FNAL, last Wednesday, presented the letter of recognition of Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, Ogboko, Imo State, to the Executive Governor, Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma.
The recognition ceremony was performed by the Executive Secretary at a brief event held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The presentation puts to rest the tussle over ownership of the university between former governor Rochas Okorocha and the Imo State government.
The current state government had earlier changed the university’s name, which was previously known as the Eastern Palm University, Ogboko and renamed it the Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwae University, Ogboko, Imo State.
With the official ceremony, NUC recognized and approved the certificate of recognition of Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University Ogboko, Imo State, as the 42nd state-owned university in Nigeria.
While presenting the certificate, Professor Rasheed congratulated governor Uzodimma and assured him of the commission’s readiness to assist the state in her academic strides.
He commended the governor for his vision to expand access to university education in Imo state and by extension, south-eastern region of the country. He expressed appreciation to the Governor for his interest and support of education in Imo State.
Prof. Rasheed noted that since the Executive Governor of Imo State assumed office, he had been a dependable friend of the Education System. He also commended the Governor for ensuring that state universities under his charge were carrying out their duties to the best of their abilities.
The Executive Secretary stated that the commission would continue to work with the state to ensure the universities take their place among other universities.
He said: “By a copy of this letter, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) are being notified of this development.
Receiving the Letter of Recognition, the Governor commended the NUC for ensuring stability in the country’s university system.
He said that the resolve to establish a state university was informed by the level of youth restiveness in the South-East.
According to him, Imo State is highly populated, we have a population of over five million and our youth population is very huge and it is also part of what has led to restiveness in the southeast. The state now has a high rate of Out- of- school youth.
The governor said “Today is a very special day for me, we have come here today to receive the recognition letter from NUC for our brand new KO Mbadiwe University.
“This university that is fully owned by Imo State government has also provided us the opportunity to immortalize one of our foremost philanthropists, K. O Mbadiwe of blessed memory.
Sen. Hope Uzodimma commended the Executive Secretary NUC for his Leadership quality, stating that he had watched with keen interest his strides in the Commission and noted that, when the opportunity arised he would be duly recognized.
Governor Uzodimma said the naming of the university was a dream realised for the government and people of the state to immortalize an illustrious son of the state. He assured the Executive Secretary of the state Government support and alliance with the NUC and other Universities in Imo State.
In a vote of thanks, on behalf of the Management and Staff of the NUC, the Deputy Executive Secretary, Administration, Mr. Chris Maiyaki thanked Almighty God for granting everybody good health to witness the event. He commended the sterling leadership quality of Prof. Rasheed in raising the bar of university education in Nigeria. He extended his warm felicitation to the press men and media.
At the event were the Directors of Academic Planning, Dr. Noel Saliu; Directors of Establishment of Private Universities (DEPU); Mrs. Constance Goddy-Nnadi; Human Resources, Mr. Boniface Odum; Open Distance and e-learning (DODE), Engr. Kayode Odedina; Students ( DoS), Mr Sunday Essien; Executive Secretary’s Office (DESO), Mr. John Mairafi Ahmadu and Acting Director, Inspection and Monitoring, Mrs. Lydia Imorua.