Politics

Okorocha loses out as Imo government takes over ownership of Mbadiwe University

Thursday, December 09, 2021 at 4:38 PM by Khadijah Thabit

The former Imo state governor has now lost out in the power tussle over ownership of the Ozumba Mbadiwe Univeristy
Gov. Hope Uzodinma says he is particularly delighted to receive the certificate as it further strenghtns his administrations resolve to provide quality education
The Univerity previously known as Eastern Palm University, Ogboko is now to be known as Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe Univeristy, Ogboko, Imo State

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Former governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha appears to have lost out in the battle between himself and the Imo state government. This is coming on the heels of the presenting of operating certificate of the Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe Univeristy to the Imo State government.

DailyTrust reports that the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Rasheed on Wednesday in Abuja, presented the University’s operating certificate to representatives of the Imo state government.

A New Name

With the new ownership, the University previously known as Eastern Palm University, Ogboko is now to be known as Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe Univeristy, Ogboko, Imo State.

While presenting the certificate, Professor Rasheed congratulated governor Uzodinma and commended him for his vision to expand access to quality education in the state and by extension the South-East. He assured the governor of the commission’s readiness to assist the state in its efforts to promote education.

A New Beginning

Speaking during the presentation, the governor said it was indeed a special day for him.

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“We have come here today to receive the recognition letter from NUC for our brand new KO Mbadiwe University fully owned by Imo State government, which has also provided us the opportunity to immortalize one of our foremost philanthropists, KO Mbadiwe of blessed memory,” he said.

He commended the NUC for ensuring stability in the nation’s university system adding that the resolve to establish a state university was largely driven by the level of youth restiveness being recorded in the South-East.

“Imo State 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,” he said.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that the Yoruba group known as Oduduwa SOns and Daughters for Equity and Justice had declared their support for Rochas Okorocha.

According to the group, they arrived at a consensus that Nigeria's next president should come from the southeast and had decided to support the former goevrnor.