Imo gets second university as Uzodimma flaws Okorocha
‘Why we rejected attempt by an individual to convert K. O. Mbadiwe University to personal property’-Uzodimma
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State on Friday thrown more light on Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, in Ogboko, Ideato South LGA of the state ,saying that his administration rejected an attempt to convert a university built and furnished with the tax payer’s money by an individual.
Governor Uzodimma stated this while speaking to newsmen at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport Owerri on arrival from Abuja He said the university is now a fully owned State University by the people and for their benefit.
Fielding questions on the Certificate of Ownership presented to him by the Executive Secretary of National University Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed on Wednesday, Governor Uzodimma said his administration “rejected an attempt to convert the K. O. Mbadiwe University built and furnished with the tax payer’s money, by an individual.”
It would be recalled that the National Universities Commission (NUC) on Wednesday presented the operating certificate for the Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University to the Imo State government.
The handing over was performed by the Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Abubakar Adamu, at a brief event held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, putting to rest the tussle over ownership of the university between former governor Rochas Okorocha and the Imo State government.
The current state governor, Hope Uzodinma, had seized the university, which was previously known as the Eastern Palm University, Ogboko, from Okorocha and renamed it the Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwae University, Ogboko, Imo State.
With the handover, the NUC has recognized and approved the operational license of Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University as the 42nd state-owned university in Nigeria.
Governor Uzodinma added that “the need to have full grasp of the University is anchored on the growing youth population in Imo State and level of drop-outs resulting from inability of these youths to secure admission in the tertiary institutions.
“The need for more higher institutions in Imo State became inevitable and to that end, Government has to encourage the youths by securing the Second State Owned University.”
On the return of illegally acquired landed property in Imo State to the rightful owners based on the recommendations of the Committee on the Review of the White Paper on Land and Other Related Matters which government set up for that purpose, the Governor said it is a promise his administration made which it has kept.
He further added that his administration is driven by the three cardinal points of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery, noting that to achieve vision his government is busy “reconstructing the roads and recovering Government assets in addition to rehabilitating all the moribund factories/industries that were in bad state” before he assumed office.
“Put together there is no doubt that the Shared Prosperity Government is making progress to satisfy the expectations of Imo people,” he added.
At the Airport to receive the Governor were the Deputy Governor, Prof. Placid Njoku, the Speaker Imo State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Kennedy Ibe; his deputy, Rt. Hon. Amara Iwuanyanwu and some Principal Officers of State House of Assembly, the Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie and some members of Imo State Executive Council.
