The newly elected President General of Igbariam community in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, where Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), is located, Dr. Chris Ofokansi, has called on the State Governor, Willie Obiano, to task the management of the university to look into operations of the school, in terms of land fees, employment and other benefits, as royalties to the host community.
He said since the University came on board, indigenes of Igbariam community, have not been given employment, whether as a Messengers or Cleaners and the little ones that got it politically, has remained stagnant without any promotion. The PG described the situation as very unfortunate.
News Echo gathered that the University was then called, Anambra State University of Science and Technology, as established by law No. 13 of 2000 by the Anambra State Government. The University was conceived as a 2-Campus structure with the main campus of the University located at Uli in Ihiala local government area of the state.
And by the Anambra State University Amendment Law No. ANHA/LAW/2006/01 of 26th January, 2006, the name of the University was changed to Anambra State University with it Administration Headquarters at Igbariam Community.
In 2014, Governor Peter Obi, changed the name of Anambra State University to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University (COOU) during the posthumous anniversary celebration of the 80th birthday of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, at the permanent site of the university, at Igbariam.
Speaking further to Journalists, shortly after his victory, Dr. Ofokansi, expressed the hope that the incoming administration of Professor Charles Soludo, will look into the matter with almost priority.
According to him, since the University was located in our land, we have not benefited anything from the School. We have unemployed graduates, energetic young men/women who can work, but the School Management has refused to employ them. The only benefits we got, is the name that the University is located at Igbariam Community. No matter how the School is being managed, be it politically or otherwise, the host community should be considered first in term of employment and promotion for those that were luckily employed, he quipped.
Reacted on the development, on a telephone interview with our correspondent, the Public Relations Officer, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Professor Chukwueloka Christian, described the statement as fallacious, ill-conceived and embarrassing to the University community.
To my knowledge, the statement or allegation, so to say is malicious and unfounded, adding that the President General, Dr. Ofokansi should fine a time and visit the University for proper clarification on how the varsity under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Greg Nwokoby, is been operated.
