Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu says that his administration will be leaving behind solid road maps that will assist the incoming administration to fast track the development of the State.
The Governor made this assertion yesterday at the Government House Umuahia while receiving the report of the Visitation Panel to the Abia State University.
The Governor made it clear that development is a systematic process that must carefully designed and faithfully implemented. According to the Governor, since the business of governance is a continuum, his administration has ensured that his successor will have carefully designed road maps to help navigate through the challenges of development.
He said that his administration set up the Visitation Panel to the University in line with standard practice of running universities across the world to give an opportunity for a thorough review of the activities of the University and make recommendations on the way forward. He appreciated the Chairman and Members of the Panel for a job well done and stated that the report of the panel has added to the growing developmental literature which are clear legacies his administration shall leave behind for the new government.
The Governor stated that his administration had earlier concluded the first ever Abia State Long Term Development Plan which was done with International Development agencies, the first ever Abia State Industrial Policy which was prepared with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the first ever Master Plans for Aba and Umuahia, and now the full report of the Abia State University Visitation Panel.
Governor Ikpeazu also thanked very specially, the Chairman of the Panel, JUK Igwe, SAN for his benevolence to the University through the establishment of a Scholarship/Endowment Fund to assist the University train some indigent students. He urged other alumni of the University to follow the example set by the Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Abia State University Visitation Panel, J U K Igwe, SAN thanked the Governor for the courage to set up the panel and for the opportunity given him and members of his Panel to serve the people of Abia State through this assignment.
He reminded the Governor that the Panel was set by in December 2020 pursuant to the powers confered on the Governor by S.30 (2) of the Abia State University Law.
He informed the Governor that their report were as follows –
1. The main Report of the Panel (2011-2020)
2. The Executive Summary, and
3. All submissions made to the Panel
The main report, according to the Chairman was a 541 page document delivered in 9 chapters. He urged the State Government to accept the recommendations made by the Panel which includes making the funding of the University, a first like charge of the State Government.
The Chairman, who is a product of the University and the first law graduate of the University to attain the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria used the opportunity to inform the Governor of his plans to set up the JUK IGWE SCHOLARSHIP/ENDOWMENT FUND to cater for the School Fees of 3 students, one from the Law Faculty, the Social Sciences and Biochemistry. He also presented a draft of the sum of 2 Million Naira to the Governor for the commencement of the Scholarship Fund which he intends to gradually raise to an initial 10 Million Naira and ultimately to 100 Million Naira.
Other members of the Panel include His Royal Highness, Eze Love Wogu, Hon. Jude Udeachara, Dr. Nath Iheanacho (mni), Dame Victoria Akanwa, Chief Sam Onukwue and Okechukwu Onuoha Ihedioha, a Permanent Secretary in the State Public Service who served as Secretary to the Panel.
Secretary to Government, Barrister Chris Ezem and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barrister Emeka Enwereji witnessed the event.
Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.
26th April, 2023.
