Obi Slaps Anambra Tertiary Institutions With N6 Billion Largess (See How It Happened Below)

Dearth of infrastructure is the major bane of most Higher Institutions in the country, those in Anambra inclusive.But in Anambra state it is no longer so, courtesy of the state Governor, Mr Peter Obi who has doled over N6 Billion in Institutions in the state.

And there are about 20 Tertiary Institutions in Anambra state including Colleges of Education, Polytechnics and Universities among others. This is their season to smile to the banks from the outgoing Governor of Anmabra state, Mr Peter Obi, OON.

 And in history of Anambra state , sitting Governors or outgoing Governor’s have not been so kind to Institutions of  Higher learning like what Governor Peter Obi did penultimate Friday.

 Obi resolved magnanimously to contribute in solving majority of the problems of these institutions regardless of who owns it whether Missionary like Paul University, Awka, and private Universities like Madonna University Okija and Tansian University and Federal Universities like Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka to mention but a few.

First, Obi started with the state University, formerly Anambra state University Uli, but now known as Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University Uli. Obi presented cheques of N5bIllion to the State University, and six vehicles, 2 buses for the students’ Union in the two campuses of the university at Uli and Igbariam. He also presented four patrol vehicles for security.

He moved to Paul University where he donated N100m and two vehicles and then to Madonna University, Okija and donated also another N100m and two buses. He as well presented 2 vehicles and N100million to Tansian University, Umunya.

He said the monies are for infrastructural upgrade and development with the promise that the assistance would get to all the higher institutions in the State. So far he has spent over N6 Billion in the cash and vehicular donations to the Institutions he visited.

And at Nnamdi Azikiwe University , (UNIZIK) Awka, Governor Obi  presented a cheque of N100 Million to for developmental projects including construction of internal roads in the University and the road to beautiful gate. 

Obi also presented  four brand new vehicles  including two Hilux security vans and buses for Students Union Government and Ekwueme Multi Disciplinary center which benefits also a 50 KVA  generator . He also promised to provide the school with a life saver ambulance.

Obi said that the support his Government was offering to higher institutions in Anambra State was in  line with the policy of his Government to offer support to all organizations and institutions domiciled in Anambra State, whether  private, public or Government-owned provided their services were  for the good of the people of the State.

The Governor assured that all higher institutions in the State will get theirs. He expressed optimism that the support would impact positively on the institutions. He stated that the N100 million that was released to the institution and other institutions were part of the state government's effort to create a better learning environment and uplift the level of infrastructure in the university.
Obi said that the policy of his government to support all institutions in the State was borne out of the fact that those institutions not owned by the Government also assist the Government, sometimes even better than Government, in the training of the people of the State.

The Governor, who disclosed that his administration was able to save the sum of about N20 billion in its savings account with the banks, also gave the sum of One Million Naira to Anambra State indigenes Association studying in the university.

Responding, the Vice chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka , Prof Boniface Egboka thanked Governor Obi for his sustained favourable disposition and abiding faith towards the university, its staff and students.

‘’Your unquantifiable broadmindedness towards the University has manifested in your various donations to the University , to with a Toyota Coaster bus ; a Nissan bus ; a joylong bus for the Faculty of Law;  the rehabilitation , on the request  of the University Administration, of the Ifite –Amansea road used mostly by staff and students the University.

‘’Your Excellency’s personal intervention in the PAYE tax imbroglio between the University and the Anambra state Board of Internal Revenue. Though this issue has not been completely resolved , Your Excellency’s personal intervention helped to mitigate the matter , and was a giant step forward in the pending resolution of the matter, and Your Excellency’s promised financial assistance towards the rehabilitation of the road leading to the beautiful gate the University.

‘’Your Excellency’s promised financial assistance towards the rehabilitation of the road leading to beautiful gate in the University.

Egboka represented by Acting Vice Chancellor/Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration , Prof Greg Nwakoby , a Professor of Law noted that ,’’ indeed , never before in the University’s Thirty four years history , first as a state University and later as a Federal University has it been the beneficiary of such highly commendable level of attention from any chief Executive of Anambra state . We can never be grateful enough to Your Excellency.

‘’Your Excellency, if your positive attention to Nnamdi Azikiwe University is described as astonishing , then your relentless drive towards the transformation of Anambra state , even in the twilight of your administration , could be said to be both captivating and mesmerizing. Through the Anambra state integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS), articulated by your Administration which for the first time in the history of Anmabra state is bringing an integrated and holistic approach to the development of the state , every nook and cranny in the state, every segment of the society is experiencing positive changes.

‘’The constraints of time do not permit us the privilege of going into specifics , but we must not fail to mention your empowering of community policing which has brought with it relative security of life and property. We cannot overlook Your Excellency’s return of mission schools to their original missionary proprietors. The policy decision is going a long way in Character formation of our children for the betterment of the society. …we therefore , seize this opportunity to congratulate you for your most outstanding good governance of Anambra state , you have done exceedingly well for the state and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, we wish you success in all your future endeavours, praying that the rest of Nigeria would one day have the blessing of experiencing the wonders of Obimetrics , a term we have coined to describe your dazzling performance in office as Executive Governor of Anambra state.  

At the Anambra state University, Obi explained that the Philosophy behind direct disbursement of funds, the Governor said it was not, and could not be interpreted as abdication of responsibility of governance.  He said that State University, the State Government erected a lot of structures in the State University, including the perimeter fencing of the Permanent site at Igbariam, the Faculties of Law, Social Sciences, Mass communication, Agric and Management buildings, the Administrative block, classrooms, among others, but insisted that direct disbursement achieve more, especially through the Churches. “With the Churches doing the projects directly, you hardly hear of variation and related terms”, Obi said.

The Governor said that the presentation of cheques to schools and hospitals had not blinded him to other needs of the State. “For instance, in investment alone, since I became the Governor, we have invested over N20b for the State, which before me, rather than invest, was actually in deficit. In INTAFACT (SABmiller), Government invested 10 Per cent, which is above N2Billion. A few days ago, I laid the foundation for the expansion of their facility in Anambra State. As part of our contribution, the State will pay another N2Billion and we shall pay it this February,” the Governor said.

Governor Obi used the visit to inspect various structures, equipment and facilities at the universities’ premises.  He said the support to the institutions, which will get to others, was in line with the comprehensive education programme of his administration geared towards turning around all schools and institutions, irrespective of ownership  for functional and qualitative knowledge.

The Governor charged the students to aspire to be good and worthy ambassadors by working heard to equip themselves properly to attain full potential in life, assuring that the State Government would continue to assist the universities to tackle their various challenges.

  Speaking at St Paul’s University and Madonna University at Awka and Okija respectively, the Gov. said the intervention was necessary because those institutions were in Anambra State and train the children of the State.

At both universities, Governor Peter Obi presented cheques of  one hundred million each to both of  them, as well as one buses and I security vehicles to them.

At St Paul’s University, the Archbishop, Province on the  Niger and Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Most Reverend Christian Efobi while thanking the Governor for the gesture, assured that the church would continue to pray for his administration to complete its vision for the state. The Awka Anglican Bishop, Dr Alex Ibezim expressed gratitude that Governor Obi is investing in human infrastructure rather than in frivolities.

  

Earlier the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Gaius Igboeli who presented the Governor with a plaque disclosed that the University was grappling with challenges of accreditation and thanked the Governor for his intervention.

At Madonna University, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chuks Ezedum, who thanked the Governor for his numerous achievements in the State that marked him out from other Governors, commended him for the visit and appealed to the Governor to reconstruct the access road to the University.

 At Tansian University, Most Rev Prof (Msgn) John Bosco Akam while receiving the Cheque and key to the vehicles thanked God for the gift of Gov. Peter Obi to the State and said it was marvelous that for the first time since creation, God gave to Anambra State a leader that understood that governance must be according to the dictates of God and for the benefit of all.

Disagreeing with the idea of retiring from politics by the Governor, he prayed to God to continue to give him the strength to serve Nigeria in higher capacity.

The Governor also performed the foundation laying ceremony of the St Peter Hostel the school is erecting.

The Acting Vice Chancellor of Tansian University, Rev, Fr. Prof. Pantaleon  Umechukwu assured that the money would be judiciously used for the progress of the students.

The Governor also visited Tansi International College, Okpuno. He thanked the teachers for the work they are doing and promised them that they will get the computers, money to upgrade their library, sick bay and other facilities.

Caption of pictures

Pix 1. Gov. Peter Obi (3^rd left), with Uju Okeke (1^st left), Chinyere Okeke (3^rd right), Bishop Alex Ibeziem (2^nd left),  Archbishop Maxwell Anikwenwa (2^nd right), Archbishop Christian Efobi (3^rd right), during the presentation of the Cheque of N100m  and key to two buses to the VC of St Paul’s University, Awka,  Prof. Gaius Igboeli (middle), for development support. 

                                                             

Pix 2. Gov. Peter Obi (2^nd left), with Uju Okeke (1^st left), Prof. Joseph Agbakoba (1^st right), during the presentation of the Cheque of N100m and key to two buses to the VC of Madonna University Okija, Prof Chuks Ezedum (2^nd right), for development support. 

Pix 3. Gov. Peter Obi (middle), with Prof. Chinyere Okunna(1^st left), Vivian Nwandu (2^nd right), the Ag Vice Chancellor of Tansian University, Rev, Fr. Prof. Pantaleon  Umechukwu during the presentation by the Gov. of the Cheque of N100m to the Proprietor of Tansian University, Most Rev. Fr.(Msgn)Prof. John Bosco Akam at the Premises of the university at Umunya, for infrastructural development.

Pix 4. Gov. Peter Obi (middle), with Dr. Uju Okeke (1^st left),  Prof. Stella Okunna (Ist right)  and the DVC, Academics of UNIZIK , Prof. Ahaneku Joseph (2^nd left), during the presentation of the Cheque of N100m to the DVC, Administration of UNIZIK,  Prof. Greg Nwokobi  (2^nd right) for developmental support to  UNIZIK. 4 vehicles and 1 50Kva Generator were also presented to them.