Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Prof. Oguejiofo T. Ujam, has challenged the Governing Board of South East Development Commission (SEDC) to explore the opportunities available in tertiary institutions to deliver on impactful and sustainable development in the region.
He reminded the Dr. Emeka Wogu-led board members that the South East region faces many obstacles, urging them to take special note of the approximately 2,500 active erosion sites; 28% unemployment and underemployment rate, which is somewhat higher than the national average.
The UNN VC, who spoke, weekend, during a special reception organised by the Chairman of Oranto Petroleum Ltd, Prince Arthur Eze at the Oranto International Airport Hotel Enugu, noted that the interventionist agency must pursue collaborations to deliver on its huge mandate.
Ujam commended President Bola Tinubu for endorsing the creation of the crucial Commission, remarking that “by quickly signing into law the Act establishing the SEDC and constituting the Governing Board, President Tinubu could be said to have done what Napoleon Bonaparte could not do.
“The promise of Reconstruction, which was a critical segment of the three ‘Rs’-Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Reconstruction- had remained unfulfilled by successive Nigerian leaders until Asiwaju Tinubu came to power.
“The SEDC stands out as huge testimony of President Tinubu’s interest, care, affection and understanding of the plights of the Southeastern Nigerians.
“Therefore, as I commend the President for this noble gesture, I wish to implore the members of the Governing Board, to see how best they can align the SEDC’s developmental programmes with the President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
While stressing that the UNN and other tertiary institutions in the Southeast are wiling to partner with SEDC, the Vice Chancellor assured the board that “as members of the ivory tower, our doors are open for supportive ideas and collaborative ventures to advance the delivery of their tall mandate which has the goal of achieving rapid development of South East.”
He told the august gathering that included the Governor of Enugu State, members of the National and State Assembly, traditional and religious leaders, that “apart from the liquidation of crucial infrastructure by the civil war, the Southeast has remained socio-economically dilapidated through political dissonance, social instability, ecological devaluation and general wanton economic harassment by the forces of production.”
The Acting VC reiterated that collaboration between the universities and the SEDC could end up as a low hanging fruit for a win-win situation in redefining development in the geopolitical zone.
He stated: “The mileage to be covered in the area of experiential learning can only be imagined if this collaboration succeeds in delivering on improved classrooms, libraries, laboratories, transportation systems, sustainable independent energy sources, student hostels and staff housing.
“Importantly, the University of Nigeria Nsukka, like other South East tertiary institutions, must modernize and enlarge its physical facilities, including classrooms, labs, libraries, staff housing, and student hostels.
“Staff members must be exposed to modern training and retraining on teaching and research in order to improve their capacity. The university library needs to be updated with contemporary resources and amenities, such as digital databases, online journals, and e-book subscriptions. In order to facilitate e-learning, research, and administration, the institutions must upgrade their ICT infrastructure, especially in the light of the disruptive knowledge economy of Artificial Intelligence (AI).”
Prof. Ujam regretted the increased insecurity brought about partly by separatist agitations in the region, recalling that “given the magnitude of the region’s development issues, the World Bank calculated that Nigeria would need to spend $10billion a year for the next 30 years in order to address the infrastructure gap in South East.”
He tasked the board to align their programmes with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, adding that their “success story would end up as a befitting appreciation to President Tinubu for establishing SEDC.”
Part of his address read: “Let me start by saying that I am very much elated to join the hardworking governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, and Ozoigbondu, Prince Arthur Eze, to welcome us all to this unique reception.
“The beauty of this gathering is that it marks a new beginning for collective reasoning in the bid to envision a common pathway for sustainable development in the Southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria, which forms about 73 per cent of the old Eastern Region.
“I must commend the Chief Executive Officer of Oranto Petroleum for his foresight in organizing this reception. This is how it ought to be. For the South East Development Commission (SEDC) to achieve its lofty purpose, it is essential that stakeholders in Southeastern Nigeria have the platform and opportunity to actively engage, contribute, and support the Commission in shaping its policies and initiatives.
“The various perspectives expressed by way of remarks from Southeast leaders, will definitely end up as quiet reminders to the board and management of SEDC of the monumental and historic nature of their assignment. Expectations are very high that this pioneer board will help address the vacuum of development created by the devastations of the civil war.
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