Day: 27 Month: Mar Senate Committee on Education lauds UNN on Infrastructure Upgrade
Senate committee on education led by its chairman, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, has applauded the current University of Nigeria administration led by Prof Bartho Okolo for making prudent use of its limited resources to upgrade infrastructure and enhance scholarship in the University.
The committee visited the University of Nigeria at the weekend, as part of its oversight function on educational institutions. Speaking after inspecting some of the projects in Enugu and Nsukka Campuses of the University, Senator Chukwumerije noted that the massive infrastructure upgrade in the University was a reflection of quality, focused and visionary leadership in the Institution.
"My impression about the oversight visit here is one of a very massive transformation going on here, and it confirms the general impression I share with the people that leadership is pivotal in any social phenomena. Whatever you talk about the flow of history, whatever you talk about changes in any larger environment, the catalyst is always the quality of leadership.
"Coming back to Nsukka after some years, when I was here to deliver a lecture, I could not believe this is the same place I have been to five years ago. There is a massive change in infrastructural facility, in landscape and in general environment. For the first time, I feel that University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is at last coming back to its former glory as one of the first generation universities in the country," he said.
The senator therefore promised to communicate to the executive arm of government, and his colleagues at the National assembly to improve the appropriation to the university, given that the little it had received was properly utilized.
Responding to questions raised by members of the senate committee, the Vice-chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Bartho Okolo, lamented that paucity of fund was a big challenge in running the University.
According to him, the institution receives about N19 million for overhead cost whereas it spends over N27 million on electricity bill alone.
Further, Prof Okolo cited the adverse impact of the Nigerian civil war as one of the major draw backs in the development of the University, but said that his administration had been making spirited effort to address the infrastructure deficit through support from the government, private sector and good spirited individuals.
On the state of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facility in the University, the Vice-Chancellor explained that, the Institution had developed a robust ICT infrastructure that is second to none among universities in Africa. He added that the University was taking advantage of its ubiquitous internet services to install Hitachi smart boards in classrooms and laboratories which would serve as a prelude to the introduction of electronic learning programme in the next academic session.
On measures taken to boost the revenue of the University, Prof. Okolo said that one of the major things his administration had done for the University was to enhance the revenue generation potentials of the University through international grants and direct investment in property development.
He added that the Institution had taken measures to mobilize its alumni across the world to support the development of the University.
The Vice-Chancellor expressed his gratitude to the private sector and good spirited individuals for their immense contributions to infrastructure upgrade in the University, but said that like Oliver Twist, the University "needs some more".
Inya, Agha E.
Via: University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
The upgrade would make more universities in this country a success. It is a very welcomed idea that should be taken seriously