……….Gifts Hezekiah University with #250m at Convocation
By Innocent Osuoha, Owerri
The Imo State Governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma has been speaking on the need for government and the private sector to synergise with a view to providing quality education for her citizenry.
The Governor made the assertion while speaking as a Special Guest at the maiden Convocation ceremony of Hezekiah University, Ishiala Umudi, Nkwerre, Imo State, while commending the Proprietor of the University, His Grace, Most Rev Professor Daddy Hezekiah for his efforts in establishing the University, the Governor insisted that governments should encourage private Institutions so that students could access qualitative education at subsidised rates.
Governor Uzodinma used the occasion to eulogize President Bola Tinubu for recalibrating education in Nigeria and hoped that the educational policy changes under Tinubu’s administration would impact on institutions such as Hezekiah University and later gifted the School with two hundred and fifty million naira.
Commenting on the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Public Administration (Honoris Causa) on his wife, Barr Chioma Uzodinma, the Governor averred that the recognition was not just an acknowledgement of her outstanding public service but also a call to do more especially as they concern support for the girl child.
The Conferee was decorated by the Chairman of the University’s BoT Ambassador Onyinye Gift Uwaechia and the Pro-Chancellor Lady Ogechi Ibeagi on behalf of the Proprietor, His Grace Daddy Hezekiah.
Daddy Hezekiah who had earlier witnessed the commissioning of an ultra modern students hostel as well as the planting of the Convocation tree, said the School was not established for profit making as he has been subsidizing the students fees to the tune of a hundred thousand naira per students, per year, since 2015.
In her speech, Dr Barr Chioma Uzodinma was overwhelmed that the recognition coincided with the world women day celebration and pleaded that government presence should be felt in private Institutions through TETFUND intervention and scholarship awards to students.
She then advised the graduands to go out to the world and make a difference by being good ambassadors of their alma mater and families.
In his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Anthony Okere informed that Management of the Institution was seriously addressing the get-rich quick cankerworm looming large among the youth of the nation by putting a lot of emphasis on entrepreneur training and development.
He said the School has achieved a lot without government assistance and faulted the policy that prevent TETFUND, PTDF and other bodies from helping private Universities whereas the NUC has set standards for the accreditation of both private, state and federal Universities.
Prof Okere disclosed that the 273 graduands that convocated were found worthy both in character and in learning.
Investigator news reports that the creme de la creme of the society attended the maiden Convocation ceremony of Hezekiah University which was established in 2015, presently runs three faculties, that of Humanities; Management and Social Sciences as well as Natural and Applied Sciences with fully accredited academic programmes. The University also runs JUPEP programmes.
