Imo: NUC approves University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

The Nigerian University Commission, NUC, has approved the take off of the Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences in October this year.

The approval, according to the state government, in a statement by Oguwike Nwachuku, Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to the Governor, underscored the efforts of the Hope Uzodimma-led government towards the establishment of a second university for the state.

Recently, the NUC panel was in Imo State to carry out the necessary verification exercises on the state facilities, human and physical infrastructures.

The cheery news was announced at the end of the weekly Executive Council Meeting at the Exco Chambers, Government House, Owerri presided over by Governor Uzodimma.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Declan Emelumba, flanked by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, Commissioner for Health Dr. Damaris Osunkwo and Nwachuku, informed that the Executive Council was happy that something new was happening in the education sector of the state.

Emelumba said that the Imo State University of Science and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, would take off by October when other universities would be resuming for a new academic session.

In the same vein, he said the council had approved the immediate relocation of Faculty of Engineering, Imo State University, Owerri, to its permanent site at Okigwe, stressing that government had put all processes and facilities on ground to ensure the immediate take–off of the faculty.

The council also approved the construction of a modern abattoir in Okigwe aimed at ensuring the hygienic processing of poultry and other forms of meat as well as acquisition of the Federal Government Silo and steps taken towards completing the project and making it functional.

The commissioner also informed that in a bid to reduce the impact of community spread of Covid-19 in the rural areas of Imo State, the United State Agency for International Development, USAID, was in the 27 local government areas of the state testing people for Covid-19.

He said so far, they had carried out reasonable number of testing in Njaba local government area and reported that all those tested came out negative, and that council prayed that the result from other local government areas would be the same.

Emelumba said that the council also approved the enactment of the law on agricultural agencies to help in facilitating agricultural development in Imo State.

Also, he said another Law was in the offing that would make Imo Housing Corporation effective and efficient in the provision of affordable houses for formal and informal sector, including civil servants.

The laws, the government said, would soon be submitted to Imo State House of Assembly.

Council equally applauded Governor Uzodimma for inaugurating a strong Governing Board for the Imo State University that would move the institution to the next level considering the men and women of integrity that make up the council.

Council, Emelumba noted, approved that the land provided for the residential purposes for judges at Onitsha Road which he said had been encumbered by illegal occupants should be retrieved immediately and where possible, revoke the C-of-O, given to those who had traded it out in exchange, as Government was determined to provide affordable houses for judges.

The Commissioner for Information finally explained that the council also approved the change of the state Ministry of Technology Development to Ministry of Science and Technology in line with her sister ministry at the national level and in states.