Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has explained why his administration has built six universities, four polytechnics and two Colleges of Education to take care of Imo indigenes and other Nigerians qualified for yearly university admissions across the country just a few weeks to go.
He said that his administration decided to build the tertiary institutions to ensure that those always denied admission because of the limited spaces in Imo State University and the issues of catchment area in other universities across the country were taken care of.
The governor told journalists at a press conference at the Government House Owerri that only a few Imo indigenes who sought university admission every year succeeded in getting it, adding that he built the universities to solve such problem once and for all.
He said in the past eight years, about one million students, who were indigenes of the state, had sought university admission, but not more than 10 per cent out of the lot could secure admission, adding that most of the students who had desired university education had been frustrated out of their life dream with this ugly development.
He said, “Let me inform you that in 2012 Imo State had 183,865 JAMB applications with the second being Delta State with 88,876 applications. In 2013, the state had 134,610 applications with Delta also coming second with 101,610. In 2014, the state had 104,382, and Delta State, 87,153, to maintain the second position. In 2015, the state had 111,066 and Delta State had 78,856.
“In 2018, Imo had 92,890 while Oyo, which came second, had 86,695. And if you add that of 2019, we have almost one million JAMB applicants from Imo State hungry for university education. And you may find out that less than 10 per cent of this number must have been offered admission while the rest would continue to wait.”
He added, “Imo State University is currently overburdened with student population, and the establishment of these universities will help in no small way in giving admission to Imo sons and daughters and other Nigerians wishing to seek admission in Imo State universities.
“We have agreed that Imo State University is free for all Imo indigenes. But for the new universities they are Public Private Partnership (PPP) driven. We have to source for funds through various means like payment of fees to sustain them. What government has done is to provide the infrastructure and buildings to set up the universities while the major partners will see to the day-to-day running of the institutions. They will charge fees to run the institutions. In this case the private sector will agree with the government but all we want is for us to have a functional university education to care for our children.”
He stated, “It is my pleasure to inform you of the universities so far established and how we intend to kick-off. These projects have been ongoing for over three years now and Imo State House of Assembly has made the necessary laws for the establishment of these universities in Imo State. University of Agriculture and Environmental Services Aboh/Ngor-Okpala. The site was chosen by Dee Sam Mbakwe over 35 years ago, intended for Imo State University (IMSU). This university has led us to the conversion of Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo to take the status of a full-fledged university. Right now, Imo State Polytechnic is now University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, with campuses in Aboh/Ngor-Okpala and Umuagwo. It will now be a degree-issuing
university.”
The governor further stated, “We have equally built four polytechnics: Mbonu Ojike Polytechnic Arondinzogu; Ahiara Polytechnic, Ahiazu Mbaise; Ehime Polytechnic at Ehime Mbano and Bishop Shanahan Polytechnic Orlu are ready for academic
activities.
“We have also built other universities in Onuimo, known as University for Science and Technology Onuimo. The university is ready to commence academic activities. We also have University of Creative Technology in Omuma Isiaku/Nkwerre. The university is completed and ready for academic activities. We also have the University of Medical Sciences at Ogboko, established primarily for medical matters, to produce young doctors and lab scientists. What gave us courage to embark on this project is the fact that we have 27 new 200-bed hospitals, located in each of the 27 LGA, which will serve as outreach centres for the Medical students in the university. We also have the Marine University in Oguta under construction.”
According to him, “With these Institutions coming into place the trauma and difficulties faced by Jambites in the state will be a thing of the past and Imo will recover its glory as number one in the education industry in Nigeria. What we have done was to have investors into our educational projects to either invest with their resources or
invest in the management of the institutions. We are proud to say that so many organizations including churches have responded to our request. What we are waiting now is to get accreditation from NUC to commence academic
session.
“Let me re-emphasize that because of the structure of these universities as PPP universities, they are not free for those seeking for admission except in Imo State University, which is 100% owned by Imo State Government that provides free tuition education for the indigenes of the state as has been the case for the past seven years.”
The governor also inaugurated the Implementation Committee on the new tertiary institutions, with Professor Chima Iwuchukwu as Chairman. Other members of the committee are, Prof. JMB Nnadozie, Barr. Mrs. Ugochi Nnanna
Okoro, Chief Dr. Lawrence Mbadiwe, Prof. Florence Emenalo and Sir
Ken Ejiogu.
