MOUAU: Abians To Get Quality Education Irrespective Of Family Background & Financial Status – Gov Otti
MOUAU: Abians To Get Quality Education Irrespective Of Family Background & Financial Status – Gov Otti
ABIA – Governor Alex Otti says one of his ambition in government is to equip the younger generation with the requisite skills and knowledge to compete favourably with their contemporaries around the globe.
Governor Otti stated this while receiving in audience a delegation of the 8th newly inaugurated Governing Council of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike MOUAU who were on a familiarization visit to him, assured that Abians under his watch will have the opportunity of getting quality education irrespective of family background and financial status.
“For us education is so critical and I say that because without education I probably won’t be sitting here today”
“So my promise to Abia people is that every child would have the opportunity, whether they have the money or not, whether they come from rich background or not, every child would have the opportunity to go to the kind of schools we went to”.
“For us we want to give our children the opportunity to compete in the international arena and I tell you, our people are very blessed when they are properly resourced they do well even without anything they still do well not to talk of when you properly equip them”
“So for us whatever it takes 20 per cent of our budget is allocated to education and we have said that we must implement it”
The Governor while commending the federal government for the reconstitution of the 8th Governing council of the university with a renowned Agriculturalist, Comrade Fidelis Edeh as Chairman, said that members of the Council are men and women of integrity and committed to set goals.
“The appointment and constitution of the 8th Council of the Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike and then putting in that Council people of integrity, people who are committed and passionate in what they do, people who are square pegs in square holes, round pegs in round holes ”
“For us we don’t see any federal institution as federal as such. For us, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike is our university on our soil and if there are benefits it is us that would enjoy it first”
The Governor who promised to give the newly inaugurated council the needed support to succeed in their new assignment, noted that the University is an extension of the state’s property as it equally serves the interest of the state.
Governor Otti who noted that he has directed the State Commissioner for Lands and Housing and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to retrieve and return to the institution all lands belonging to it just as he has returned that of Government College Umuahia, said that government is committed to retrieving all public lands that were taken over by private individuals in the past.
“Mr Pro-chancellor, I can assure you that we are going to partner with you and ensure that you have a successful tenure not just your tenure but that the university continues to grow from strength to strengthen”
“That is why any time I engage with the Vice Chancellor I tell him any support you want, when he talked about encroachment I asked the Commissioner for Lands and Housing to work with all the necessary parties including the Attorney General and retrieve all the land that belong to you and give them to you,If that has not happened it will happen that means they are in the process” Gov. Otti said.
Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation and Pro-Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Comrade Fidelis Edeh said that the visit was to present themselves to the Governor as the Council is in the state for the 87th meeting of the council.
He said that the institution speaks volume of the Agricultural revolution of Late Dr Michael Okpara in the past, and assured that the Governing Council and management of the University will ensure that the vision of the institution is achieved.
Comrade Edeh appreciated Governor Otti for putting in place processes for the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy of the School land to the University, adding that the emergence of Governor Otti has rekindled the hope of Abians and the rest of Nigerians on the workability of democracy in Nigeria.
Also speaking, a member of the Governing Council and DG, South East Governors forum, Senator Uche Ekwunife while describing Governor Otti as the new face of democracy, said that the involvement of Julius Berger Construction Company in the reconstruction of the long abandoned Port Harcourt road Aba marks the begining of greater things for the state and Alaigbo in general.
While noting that the South East Governors are united and intentional in developing the South East Region, Senator Ekwunife also called for a uniform legislation for the 5 South East states as to achieving regional integration.
The Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu and other members of the state executive council were present during the visit.