FUNAI seeks investors in development plan

In the face of mounting development challenges posed by Nigeria’s economic crisis, Federal University of Nigeria, Ndufu Alike, Ikwo (FUNAI) in Ebonyi State has called for private sector involvement in the development of necessary facilities it requires to be an educational institution of note in the country.

The vice chancellor, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, who spoke on the ocassion of his maiden meeting with the university community represented by the teaching and non-teaching staff, recalled that the school was apparently lacking of needed facilities at his resumption six months ago.

He mentioned some of the achievements made within the period to include: Landscaping of the environment, connection of the University to national power grid in other to reduce the enormous money spent on diesel, installation of transformers to step down and connect power to offices, hostels, lecture halls and laboratories, on-going fencing of the University community to ensure security of life and property, flag off for the construction of 2, 500 sitter auditorium and attraction of investors to partner with the University on key and strategic areas like the Advanced Space Technology Application Laboratory which is to be built by the National Centre for Remote Sensing (NCRS), One kilometre of internal road to be constructed by Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, donation of a trailer load of cement by the
INEC Commissioner representing the South-East Zone, Lawrence Nwuruku, sinking of two boreholes and provision of television sets and satellite decoder for the female hostel by the Senator representing Ebonyi Central in the National Assembly, Chief Obinna Ogba among others.

Describing the university as “a campus crying for investors,” he expressed appreciation for the Staff Cooperative for planning a shopping mall and thanked a number of benefactors who have so far made contributions to the university’s developmental agenda while listing further efforts still in the pipeline.“I thank the Minister of Science and Technology for encouraging NASDRA to establish a research laboratory for the Southeast here in FUNAI Campus, the Senator for Ebonyi Central, Obinna Ogba for donating a television set and related DSTV facilities to our female hostel.

“We would continue to build and repair seats and classrooms so our students don’t take classes standing or seating on blocks. We are furnishing our laboratories so our students do not have to go to another university for practicals, while we pay that university and its staff for it. We are buying some chairs and tables for staff. We
have had to assist contractors put doors to buildings so we can move in and save our lecturers the trouble and embarrassment of using their cars for offices. We hope to move the Faculty of Humanities to the new building in the coming weeks. “

He restated his administration’s commitment to the development of the young school stressing that the ongoing infrastructure development exercise in the school would continue until the school is equipped with all the necessary facilities.