Governor Alex Otti with the Mayor of Isuikwuato Local Government Area, Hon. Chinedu Ekeke, during the Governor's unscheduled visit to ABSU
Otti shocked by deplorable state of facilities in ABSU, apologizes to students
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, has decried the deplorable conditions under students of the state-owned Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), saying students who have been excelling under the conditions should be congratulated.
Governor Otti who, last Sunday, embarked on an unscheduled visit to the Uturu main campus of ABSU almost broke down in tears following the level of dilapidation he saw during an on-the-spot assessment of facilities in the school, expressing utter shock and disappointment over the deplorable state of facilities in the University.
Facilities inspected included the ABSU Staff Primary School, the old Law Faculty building, and the proposed site for the new 5,000 students’ capacity hostels for both male and female students. The deeply moved Governor exclaimed: “Thank God I came; I couldn’t have believed it,” promising immediate action.
Addressing the students who trooped out of their hostels to catch a glimpse of their Governor, Governor Otti expressed displeasure and apologized for the unfortunate state of facilities in the school and reassured them of his unwavering commitment to fixing the school in order to make it conducive for learning.
“I just came to see things for myself. And I thought I should take you and the university management by surprise. I’m happy to see you, but I’m very unhappy with the state of the facilities. The conditions under which you live cannot allow you to do any academic work. For those of you who do well under these conditions, we must congratulate you,” the Governor said in acknowledgement of the students’ resilience and ability to excel despite the challenging conditions.
The Governor directed the university management to find an organized way and phased approach to making the current hostels habitable while the new hostel is being constructed; and gave the Vice Chancellor a marching order to build a functional cafeteria for the students in three months, noting that it was unhygienic and risky to have cooking stoves, kerosene and pots in the hostels.
To ease the accommodation difficulties in the main campus, the Governor promised to complete the Faculties of Law and Agriculture buildings for the students relocating to Uturu from the shut down Umuahia campus, as well as the 5,000 students’ capacity hostel, in four months.
At the University Staff Primary School, Governor Otti ordered the immediate demolition of the structure and erection of a new one, while instructing that a temporary learning facility be provided for the students while the new one is constructed.
He assured the Management and students that essential amenities needed to make the academic community conducive for learning, including power and potable water, among others would be provided.
Governor Otti who was accompanied on the inspection visit by the Mayor of Isuikwuato, Hon. Chinedu Ekeke, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Technical Assistant to the Governor, Mr. Charles Egonye, among other top government functionaries; was received on arrival by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ndukwe Okeudo.
