Determined to give every child in Nigeria access to free and qualitative education, the Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has today, September23, 2014 declared absolute free education to indigenes and non indigenes studying in Imo State University.
Governor Okorocha announced this during the commissioning ceremony of N150m Ultra Modern Owunna Recreation Park at the University campus Owerri.
Owelle Okorocha stressed the need to encourage the present generation to do better than the past generation and urged the students to reciprocate the gesture by imbibing a progressive spirit.
He further called on the school authorities to stop forthwith the collection of N50,000 acceptance fee and warned lecturers against the sale of handouts, while insisting that all books must be sold through the bookshops.
The Governor however pointed out that government will not be involved in certain charges like students’ Identity Cards, medicals, text books and other departmental charges. He therefore appealed to the academic staff to be modest and adhere strictly to the directives.
While promising to elevate the image of the University, Governor Okoroccha urged the students to develop passion for education and advised them to refrain from cultism and indecent dressing especially as the nation is yearning for leaders with good conduct in both learning and character.
He commended the Pro-Chancellor, Mazi Clement Owunna and the University Governing Council for their personal sacrifices made towards the development of the institution.
The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof Uba Nnabue, noted the Imo State University has witnessed remarkable level of infrastructural development within the past three years of the Rescue Mission administration.
He called on the staff and students of the University to support the government in its efforts to promote education in the State.
Earlier in his address, the Vice Chancellor of Imo State University, Prof Ukach Awuzie, stated that the recreation park was constructed and funded by the Pro-Chancellor, Mazi Clement Owunna through his Chief Peter Sunday Owunna Memorial Foundation (CPSOMF) and donated to the institution.
He described the park as the first of its kind in the country tailored to suit the needs of the staff and students alike and commended him for attracting numerous projects to the institution as the chairman of the Governing Council of Imo State University.
Handing over the project, donor and Pro-Chancellor of the Universty, Mazi Clement Owunna said the Board of Trustees of his Foundation conceptualized and developed the Recreation Park which stood to tune of N150m to create an environment that would impact positively on the students staff as well as add dynamism to the University ambience and environment.
He thanked Governor Okorocha for the support given to the University which has translated into the development of physical infrastructural at both the Owerri and Orlu campuses.
Unadike William C
For: SSA Media
Government House Owerri
23rd September, 2014
