The National Universities Commission, NUC, on Thursday presented the operating certificate for the Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, Ogboko, to the Imo State Government.
The Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, presented the certificate to Gov. Hope Uzodinma, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Mr Rasheed said with this, the tussle between former Gov. Rochas Okorocha and the state government over the ownership of the university had come to an end.
“By a copy of this letter, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, and the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, are being notified of this development,’’ he said
Mr Uzodinma had seized the university which was previously known as the Eastern Palm University, Ogboko, from Okorocha and renamed it as Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwa University, Ogboko.
The executive secretary congratulated Uzodimma and assured him of the commission’s readiness to assist the state in its educational strides.
Adamu also commended the governor for his vision to expand access to university education in Imo and by extension, the South East region of the country.
Responding, Udodinma commended the NUC for ensuring stability in the country’s university system.
The governor said that the resolve to establish a state university was informed by the level of youth restiveness in the South-East.
“Imo is highly populated, we have a population of over five million and our youth population is very huge and it is also part of what has led to restiveness in the south east.
“Today is a very special day for me; we have come here today to receive the recognition letter from NUC for our brand new university.
“This university that is fully owned by Imo State Government has also provided us the opportunity to immortalise one of our foremost philanthropists, K.O. Mbadiwe of blessed memory,’’ he said.
NAN
