- On April 18, 2019, the Enugu state Governor, Rt. Hon.Dr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi performed the ceremony for the administrative building of the State University of Education
- Five years after, the project has remained abandoned, sparking anger, frustration across the state
- Residents appeal to the state government to complete the project as a legacy for the past and present administrations
On April 18, 2019, the Enugu state Governor, Rt. Hon.Dr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the administrative building of the first University of Education in the South East geo-political zone, the Enugu State University of Education in Ihe, Awgu Local Government area of the state.
The ceremony which he jointly performed with the then Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Greg Nnaji and Chairman of Governing Council, Enugu State College of Education (Technical), Amb. Mrs. Fidelia Njeze literally left the state with a lot of hopes of employment generation in the state.
The University which would be a degree-awarding institution in the area of education will serve as a training ground for teachers of primary, secondary and tertiary education. The establishment of the new institution was recently approved by the Gov. Ugwuanyi administration, and the contract for the construction of the administrative building was awarded last week by the State Executive Council.
Performing the ceremony, Gov. Ugwuanyi, who expressed delight and fulfillment, stated that the quest for the establishment of the University was in consonance with his administration’s commitment to providing and promoting better access to higher education as a way of stimulating knowledge, productivity and industry among the teeming youths in Enugu State.
The governor recalled that his administration had earlier announced the release of the sum of N200 million for the commencement of preliminary construction works on the site, stressing that the proposed University will help to bring about a significant and positive transformation of the socio-economic fortunes of the entire Awgu LGA and environs.
According to him, “apart from graduating its own students, it is expected that the proposed University will also provide channels for students of other Colleges of Education in and around the state especially, the Enugu State College of Education (Technical), to obtain degrees in their chosen areas of study”.
Gov. Ugwuanyi explained that “the prompt construction of an administrative building is therefore expected to stimulate the rapid development of the institution and prepare it for full commencement of academic activities in no distant time”.
The governor, who reiterated his pledge to continue to serve Enugu State with the fear of God to ensure that opportunities for growth and development were extended to every corner of the state, disclosed his administration’s plan to revitalize the Awgu Games Village as part of its concerted efforts to transform the council area.
He therefore, appreciated the people of Ihe town, and leaders and stakeholders of Awgu LGA as well as the state Ministry of Education and other actors in the education sector, for their enthusiasm and support towards the historic and all important project.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that many political stakeholders took their turn to express their support for the establishment of the university.
The then member representing Aninri/Awgu/ Oji River Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Works, Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu; the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uche Eze; his counterparts in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and Information, Engr. Greg Nnaji and Mr. Ogbuagu Anikwe; Chairman, Governing Council, Enugu State College of Education (Technical), Amb. Fidelia Njeze; Awgu Council Chairman, Hon. Stanley Okeke; State Chairman, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Alex Ogbonna; Traditional Ruler of Ihe and Chairman, Awgu Traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe Goddy Ekoh, among others, thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for his vision and commitment towards the establishment of the University, maintaining that the bold initiative will enhance quality education in the state and socio-economic expansion of the area.
The project has been abandoned
However, six years after the ceremony and the euphoria that greeted the ceremony, the project is still at its infancy.
At the moment, no further structure has been put in the said university except about three administrative blocks whose foundations were laid by the immediate past governor.
The incumbent governor, Dr. Peter Mbah seems not be interested in continuing with the project as he has channeled his energy in the construction of Smart Primary schools across all the 260 wards in the state.
Enugu people react to the abandonment of the project
Since the project came to a halt, the people of the state has not been happy with both the immediate and past administration.
Julius Nweke, resident of the host community of the abandoned university told WITHIN NIGERIA that ” when I heard and saw that the construction of the administrative block of the university has commenced, I became so much happy and relocated from Kogi state to my community.
” I was not happy that the project has been abandoned. It is not as if the state government does not have the fund to execute the project. If the state government could start and finish the State University of Medical Sciences, SUMAS in Igbo Ano, Nsukka, why can’t they finish this one?
“We are appealing to the state government to expedite action to see that this project is taken to its logical conclusion. It will go a long way in generating huge direct and indirect employment to the people of Enugu state.”
Another resident of the council area Mrs Janet Ugwu told our reporter that ” I was happy when I saw that the university was sited in my council area.”
Janet, a principal in one of the public secondary schools in the area narrated that ” my son already has a Masters Degree in Education from University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I was praying and hoping that the establishment of Enugu state University of Education would be an employment hub for him and some other youths like him.”
Mrs. Ugwu, however, appealed to the state government to complete the project so as to help generate employment opportunities for the youths in the state.
However, when our reporter visited the site, it was discovered that the place has been turned to hide out for dangerous criminal elements in the area even as it has been overwhelmed by grasses.
In any case, all efforts to get the reactions of the state commissioner for Education, Prof. Leonard Ndubueze Mbah proved abortive as he was not picking his calls.
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