By Praise Chinecherem
Twelve students of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra State lost their lives in seperate auto accidents within the campus environs.
Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kate Omenugha announced this while delivering her speech at the 3rd Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Memorial Lecture series, held at the university’s ETF Auditorium.
She said the crashes which occurred within 10 months of her assumption of office, involved tricycle (Keke) and motorcycle (Okada) along inter-community roads leading to the university.
She attributed the cause of the unfortunate incidents to lack of hostels and school buses for the teeming students who reside in neighboring communities.
She said, “Since I assumed office as the acting VC ten months ago, about twelve students have lost their lives in tricycle and motorcycle accidents along inter-community roads leading to the university.
“The loss of these brilliant students could have been avoided if we had hostels in the university. I feel terrified as a mother about these incidents.
“If you look around the campus, you will see so many uncompleted buildings begging for attention.
“We need assistance from the general public, especially Ndi-Anambra who are well-to-do, to come to our aid.
“We need hostels in the university to curb the rising spate of these avoidable accidents. We also need staff quarters for our restive staff.
“There are numerous areas for partnership. One of our concerns is also to establish an Ojukwu Hall of Fame, where we will display names and images of individuals who have contributed to the development of the university.
“Our governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has been doing wonderfully well for this great university.
“However, he needs support through his Private Public Community Partnership (PPCP) initiative in the state.
“We should not allow this university, the only state-owned university in our great state, to languish.
“I am calling on Ndi-Anambra and other well-to-do individuals in the state to come to our aid because the state government cannot do it alone.
“We cannot continue to lose our future leaders to the cold hands of untimely death. We need hostels and school buses for our students.”
Also speaking, former Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku called on President Bola Tinubu to release detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, without further delay.
He said the more the Nigerian government continues to detain the IPOB leader, the more tension would continue to escalate in the country.
He maintained that the success of the Igbo entrepreneurial spirit remained the success of the entire Nigeria, calling on Ndigbo not to allow their frustrations to lead them into perennial violence.
Describing Nigeria as a historical accident that has come to stay, Maku warned that the African continent would weep in case of any descent into ethnic fiefdoms in Nigeria.
Delivering the Memorial Lecture with the theme “Harnessing the Power of Education for National Development: Lessons from the Life and Vision of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu”, Former Aviation Minister, Chief Osita Chidoka said Ojukwu symbolized a blend of strength and sophistication and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
He said the university named after him should capture that very spirit, emerging as a centre of learning that commands respect and recognition, not just locally but on the world stage.
“This is not just an aspirational dream, this vision is entirely achievable with the right investments, strategic partnerships, and a clear direction,” he stated.
Chidoka called for new thoughts and ideas on securing the eastern homeland and de-escalating the destructive violence around the communities and securing the space for meaningful development and attraction of talent and capital.
Other dignitaries that graced the ocassion included the state’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim; one of the sponsors, Mr. Peter Nwosu; immediate past VC of the university, Prof. Greg Nwakoby; CMD of Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Amaku-Awka, Dr. Joe Akabuike; Dr. Ameachi Nwachukwu; the Traditional Ruler of Ogidi, Igwe Alex Oyido; the State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chima-Udeh; Prof. Kingsley Nwozor, among others.
