By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The Nnamdi Azikiwe University Alumni Association, Friday, unveiled plans to build a 400 million multipurpose Alumni Centre in the citadel of learning.
According to the National President of the Association, Engr. Kingsley Emeka Nwafor, the Unizik Alumni Centre would have 1000 seater auditorium, banquet hall, 20 room accommodation, seminar rooms, shops, Internet Arcade, among other facilities.
Nwafor disclosed this at maiden edition of Unizik Alumni reunion and award night held at Awka, the Anambra State capital under the Chairmanship of Prof. Jerry Gana, with former governor Peter Obi as Keynote speaker, former Nigeria's Ambassador to Mali, Kenneth Nwachukwu as Guest Lecturer.
"The Alumni organisation has over the years, made immense contributions to the development of the University especially in the area of infrastructure and supporting the university administration to maintain standards. This event is organised to provide members the opportunity to reunite, interact and bond together, also a platform to honour some illustrious members of the Association," he added.
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Charles Okechukwu Esimone, affirmed that the alumni has attracted various developments to their Alma mater, and called for more support to uplift the institution globally.
"Our Alumnus are our brands. They are our ambassadors. They are known by their conduct, character, output and performance outside the university. We always charge them to maintain the standards by ensuring they uphold the motor of the University because their conducts help to build and boost our image. I want you to understand that if our university is rated higher outside, your price and premium will be rated higher too," Esimone stated.
The Vice Chancellor further charged the university alumnus to always think home "on how to provide the university with basic infrastructure and other needs. Let's do that without grumbling. Do whatever you can to reposition the university. The unversity is ever ready, available and poised to help you go higher in your chosen career and endeavours," he further maintained.
On his part, the Chairman of the occasion and former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Prof. Jerry Gana, extolled the University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Okechukwu Esimone for maintaining a high standard which according to him, was why the institution remains one of the best in the country with graduands inculcated with good character, integrity, discipline and sound education.
Gana, who hailed the theme for the event, survival strategy in a devastated economy, acknowledged that Nigeria economy was indeed devastated and must be rescued by especially by the younger generation through possession of permanent voters cards and voting according to their conscience not by inducements.
"Nigeria economy is indeed devastated. The economy has to be rescued. Things are too bad. No fuel, no power supply... things are very difficult to all. We are going to listen attentively to resource persons at this occasion to see how we can rescue our country. This is the best time for us to rise to rescue our country.
"Election is coming by. Everyone who is of voting age must endeavour to obtain their permanent voters cards (PVC) to be qualified to elect good leaders. Good leaders will change and rescue our economy. Nigeria needs to be rescued and restructured. We have all the human and material resources to change the country but bad leaders are not allowing us to make headway. We must join hands in doing this by choosing our leaders accordingly," he noted.
In a lecture, the Guest Lecturer and former Nigeria's Ambassador to Mali, Kenneth Nwachukwu, observed that the country would be greater if the government began to endow research funds as well as provide other resources to enable universities discover and provide lasting solutions to her myriads of challenges..
"We need to have a rethink on what we do so that we can build industries and transform our land. We cannot continue importing goods and services while we have both human and material resources to produce locally and internationally acceptable rice, clothing, shoes and others. Anambra State government can team up with Nnamdi Azikiwe University to produce solutions to this," Nwachukwu retorted.
Earlier, the former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, identified high cost of governance and borrowing for consumption as the main reason Nigeria economy had been devastated.
Obi, who argued that the country's economy would thrive when the leaders began to borrow to invest, added that parts of survival strategies to the challenges befalling Nigeria was to cut down the cost of running governance from ward and local government levels up to the State, Presidency and National Assembly levels.
"The cost of governance in Nigeria is unacceptable. We don’t have the cost of keeping a councillor, local government chairman, house members and others. It is time government start cutting cost of governance and frivolities to save money for the country. 2023 polls are by the corner. We must get our PVC ready to vote in quality leaders that can change the narrative," Obi stated.
Factcheckng reports that the event also featured presentation of awards to about 60 deserving distinguished personalities across all walks of life. Among them were Mr Peter Obi, popular philanthropist, Obinna Iyiegbu a.k.a Obi Cubana, Mrs Helen Nnebedum, Esq, Prof Jerry Gana, Dr Adaora Umeoji, Deputy Director of Zenith Bank PLC, Chief Dickson Orji and others.