Discouraging Plight Of Students Of Abia State University, Uturu.
Sunday (Nkwo) 29-06-2025.
Education guarantees unhindered social mobility. It creates a meeting point between the children of the rich and those of the poor. It closes the gap that, otherwise, exists between people of different classes. Above all, it facilitates liberation of the mind from mental darkness and myopia.
Investment in Education by a family has always been regarded as the best thing the family should do for itself. It ensures a brighter future for such a family. Often, if not always, it is said that no family or society advances beyond its educational investment.
Towards Nigeria’s Independence which was obtained on 1st October, 1960, the then Premier of defunct Eastern Region of Nigeria, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, and his team, in appreciation of the strategic importance of functional education for the People of Eastern Region in an Independent Nigeria, founded the University of Nigeria, UNN, in 1955 though it took off on 7th October, 1960, only seven days after Nigeria’s attainment of Political Independence, as a conventional University, with three Campuses at Nsukka, Enugu, and Ituku Ozalla.
The impact of UNN in the growth of the economy of Eastern Region, which was said to be the fastest growing economy in the world before January 15, 1966 when the Nigerian Military, for the first time, overthrew a democratic government of the country, needs not be overemphasized.
In the same vein, the first democratically elected Governor of Old Imo State, Chief Samuel Onunuka Mbakwe, a renowned Teacher and Lawyer, felt that one of the legacies his Administration would bequeath the people of the State was good quality education. He, therefore, established the Imo State University in 1981, also as a multi-campus conventional University.
That University, because of creation of Abia State from Imo State on 27th August, 1991, is today Abia State University, Uturu. It is a University that has produced many influential figures in Nigeria, including a former President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Secretary to the Government of the Fedaration, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Esq, a former Minister of Labour and Productivity, and current Chairman of South-East Development Commission, Dr Chukwuemeka Ngozichineke Wogu, Esq, and many others.
The world over, education does not thrive in an atmosphere of insecurity. It, rather, does well in a serene and secured ambience. The brain should not be in a panic mood if it should be critically involved in academics. Fear of insecurity is capable of destabilising any person from giving adequate attention to studies.
That Students of Abia State University at the main campus of Uturu are currently perpetually in fear of kidnappers or assassins, is surely a big minus to the State Government. It will drastically affect Student enrollment of the University. No parent or guardian will allow his or her child or ward to go to an Institution where, as is presently the case in Abia State University, Uturu, the Student’s security will be uncertain.
Equity Global Reporters Ltd wishes to call on the Government of Abia State to prioritise the security of Students, Lecturers, Staff of the University, and indigenes of Uturu Communities. The stories of insecurity being heard from Uturu are not, in the least, palatable. With the huge amount of money monthly withdrawn as Security Vote by the Government, fears of insecurity pervading Abia State University at Uturu should have no basis, whatsoever, to emanate.
The State Government should realize that at Uturu the future and wealth of Abia State lie. Therefore, at any given time, that place and its environs should be uncompromisingly protected. The Security Agencies should be adequately equipped with arms, ammunition, logistics, and communication gadgets. There should be enough financial motivations for the Security Personnel that daily expose their lives in order to secure the lives of the citizens. Anything short of this, defeats the essence of the humongous amount of money the State Government pulls out of monthly allocations to Abia State.
A recent viral video showed that the winding road that goes from Uturu to Okigwe is in a horrible state of dilapidation. Like it it had earlier been stated, the wealth and future of Abia State have been cultivated in Uturu. The present state of Uturu-Okigwe road makes it a death trap. It also makes it easier for fulani hoodlums to effectively operate as kidnappers and killers.
Abia State Government is, hereby, advised to carry out some palliative measures on that road. Though the road is a Federal road that was reconstructed when Anyim Pius Anyim was a President of the Senate, majority of users of the road are those going to Abia State University, Uturu. For that reason, any good thing done on that road, will be in the overall interest and safety of Abia State University, Uturu.
Meanwhile, Abia State Government is also advised to avoid increasing the preponderance of risk of kidnapping of Students of Abia State University, by allowing the Faculty of Law of the University remain at her Umudike Campus.
Sir Don Ubani; KSC,JP
Okwubunka of Asa and Okeamadi Gburugburu.
Editor-in-Chief/CEO
Equity Global Reporters Ltd.
