* Assures Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education of govt support
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has said that the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) holds a lot of potentials for Nigeria’s digital economy and technological take-off if properly harnessed.
The governor spoke on Tuesday when he received in audience a team from NASENI led by the Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, who paid him a courtesy call at the Government House Owerri.
Governor Uzodimma said what NASENI has been able to do within a short period of coming into existence is an indication that Nigeria still has hope and that the country can navigate away from analogue to digital economy.
The governor however charged the team to prioritise the technological needs of Nigeria along the line of agricultural, security, manufacturing, marketing, and ICT sectors.
Governor Uzodimma specifically urged the Federal Government to consider making NASENI the umbrella body that will chart a technological course for Nigeria in line with current economic realities.
Congratulating them for achieving several feats in their short period of establishment, he described their works “as encouraging and assurance that Nigeria still has hope.”
Governor Uzodimma who patiently listened to a presentation that lasted for more than one hour by the Executive Chairman of the Institution, Prof. Haruna
congratulated NASENI for rising up to the digital infrastructural demand of Nigeria.
He appealed to them to “prioritize the technological needs of the nation to capture what is mostly in demand by the nation today especially using technology to fight insecurity.”
The governor challenged NASENI to take over some moribund science and technological establishments of the nation and manage them to produce results.
On NASENI’s reason for coming to Imo State, the Governor assured the team of the State’s support, promising to raise a five man team to work with them and chart a road map on the science and technology needs of Imo. He also urged NASENI to ensure that it has sufficient presence in Imo State.
Earlier in his presentation, Prof. Haruna showcased the Agency’s achievements in the areas of power generation, transport, education and agricultural development.
He presented a solar powered modular manufacturing plant as well as other solar panel productions.
In a PowerPoint presentation, the Executive Secretary showed the involvement of NASENI in collaboration with other National and Foreign Partners in Tricycle (Keke) production, helicopter production, computer production and other science equipment and machineries such as tractor repairs, maintenance and refurbishing.
He informed the Governor and other top government officials including the Deputy Governor, Prof Placid Njoku that they had come to seek partnership with the Imo State Government in any science and technology development that will be to the advantage of Imo people.
Uzodimma Assures Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education of govt support
Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma has assured members of the Governing Council of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri of his administration’s willingness to partner with the institution for the purpose of realising its set goals.
The governor gave the assurance when he received in audience, the Chairman and members of Governing Council if AIFCE who paid him a courtesy call at the Government House Owerri on Tuesday.
Governor Uzodimma had added that he will do everything within his powers as Governor to “support the institution function well and continue to realize the objectives of the founding fathers.”
He said as partners in progress, the Government of Imo State will work with the Council to ensure that the decision of Federal Government in taking over the College is not frustrated at any given time.
He reassured Council members of his interest in the college, and advised them to go home with the mindset that they now have a Governor that can listen to them and solve their problems, adding that “the state will do its best to support you and not to disappoint your reasonable expectations.”
Uzodimma reminded the Council that Government is one, whether Federal, State or Local Government, “and on that premise if we must have a decent society the three levels of Government must be able to be law abiding, eliminate corruption and injustice that has plagued the country by some people and establishments in the past.”
The governor acknowledged the requests made by the Council and promised that some will be handled immediately, while others such as: the request for inclusion of retired ALVAN workers in pensions and gratuity will be looked into in future.
On the issue of encroachment on land belonging to ALVAN the governor assured that Government will do her best to untie the naughts that are holding back positive actions.
He therefore suggested setting up a small committee of the Council and the Government that will look into the matter and recommend what possible things will be done for a win-win situation.
In an address earlier by the Chairman of the Governing Council of AIFCE, Owerri, Chief (Lady) Regina Nwamaka Emehelu, they prayed Government to facilitate the full handover of the College to the Federal Government, to direct Imo State sub-treasurer department to capture retired staff of the College before the takeover by the Federal Government on the payment of Imo State Pensions and Gratuity.
The Council requested the Governor to assist the College to recover all the lands forcefully taken over by the former administration of Rochas Okorocha from the College and to “save and stop further encroachment on the river bank and threat on the college buildings and bridges by sand excavators.”
Finally, the Chairman appealed to the Governor to assist the College in the issuance of certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) of their land situate across river Nwaorie having made all the necessary payment and met the requirements for such by the College.
They acknowledged the Governor’s achievements in the short period in office and prayed God to continue to guide and lead him through.