It was a harvest of commendations for Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Friday, at the 15th edition of Eni Njoku Lecture series, at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), as professors at the event took turns to laud the governor for solid road construction in the State.
Former Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo who was the guest lecturer opened the floodgate of commendations for Governor Uzodimma for the solid construction of the Owerri-Okigwe road, which hitherto was a death trap to motorists.
The former Minister said he drove through Okigwe-Owerri road two weeks ago with his family and “there was no single pot hole on the road.”
His colleague, Prof F.C Chilaka of the Department of Biochemistry of the University, who spoke immediately after the guest lecturer also applauded Governor Uzodimma for constructing durable roads in Imo State.
In like manner, Prof Chilaka said he was pleasantly amazed recently when they went to bury a late colleague, to discover that “Owerri to Okigwe that used to take three hours because of the bad state of the road, now takes only 45 minutes.”
Also, Prof Jerry Ugwuanyi, former Dean of faculty of Biological Sciences, who said that he was among those who went to bury their departed colleague, described the new Owerri-Okigwe road as “simply amazing,” adding that, “as a frequent user of the road I was truly amazed that the governor has turned it to a motorists delight through solid road work.”
Prof Nebo who said he was satisfied with the quality of the construction, noted that “commuters had before now suffered as a result of the deplorable condition of the road.”
Prof Nebo, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, also praised the governor for initiating the dredging of the Oguta/ Orashi to the Atlantic, which will lead to the establishment of a sea port in the South East.
He told Governor Uzodimma that if he accomplishes that, he should be assured that history will never forget him and that he has written his name in gold in the South East forever.
Speaking on the topic – Science and Technology as Allies with Good Governance in Wealth Creation and Poverty Reduction -, the erudite scholar told Governor Uzodimma that what he was doing in Imo State were examples of how good governance can create wealth.
He emphasized that more of such legacies were needed in the South East for the creation of wealth and reduction of poverty.
Prof Nebo charged Governors in the South East to evolve ways of initiating programmes that will create wealth for the teaming number of unemployed youths in the region.
He however praised the organisers of the Eni Njoku Lecture Series for their resilience in sustaining the legacies of the late don, saying that “posterity will always be kind to the icon for his trail blazing efforts in the development of academics in Nigeria,”
The event was well attended by academics, students and other invited guests.