Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has disclosed that the Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University in Ogboko, Ideato South is now a fully owned State University by the people and for their benefit.
Governor Uzodimma made the disclosure on Friday while speaking to newsmen at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport Owerri on arrival from Abuja.
Fielding questions on the Certificate of Ownership presented to him by the Executive Secretary of National University Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed on Wednesday, Governor Uzodimma said his administration “rejected an attempt to convert the K. O. Mbadiwe University built and furnished with the tax payer’s money, by an individual.”
The governor added that “the need to have full grasp of the University is anchored on the growing youth population in Imo State and level of drop-outs resulting from inability of these youths to secure admission in the tertiary institutions.
“The need for more higher institutions in Imo State became inevitable and to that end, Government has to encourage the youths by securing the Second State Owned University.”
On the return of illegally acquired landed property in Imo State to the rightful owners based on the recommendations of the Committee on the Review of the White Paper on Land and Other Related Matters which government set up for that purpose, the Governor said it is a promise his administration made which it has kept.
He further added that his administration is driven by the three cardinal points of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery, noting that to achieve vision his government is busy “reconstructing the roads and recovering Government assets in addition to rehabilitating all the moribund factories/industries that were in bad state” before he assumed office.
“Put together there is no doubt that the Shared Prosperity Government is making progress to satisfy the expectations of Imo people,” he added.
At the airport to receive the governor were the Deputy Governor, Prof. Placid Njoku, the Speaker Imo State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Kennedy Ibe; his deputy, Rt. Hon. Amara Iwuanyanwu and some Principal Officers of State House of Assembly, the Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie and some members of Imo State Executive Council.