AE-FUNAI VC COMMISSIONS GUEST HOUSE BUILT BY PARENTS’ FORUM
In a bid to develop a virtual campus community where staff and students live, work, learn and interact together, the Vice-Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, yesterday, inaugurated the Vice- Chancellor’s guest house constructed by the AE-FUNAI Parents’ Forum.
The AE-FUNAI Parents’ Forum is an umbrella body of parents and guardians of students of the University established in 2016. The Forum is a child of necessity geared towards bridging the palpable infrastructural gaps evident in the institution, which also have some adverse effect on the academic performance of students.
VC, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba, DVC, Professor Sunday Elom, Registrar, Mrs. Odisa C. Okeke, Bursar, Alhaji Rafiu Aliu and Dean Faculty of Management and Social Sciences during the commissioning ceremony
On assumption of office in February 2016, the Vice-Chancellor after diagnostic review of the infrastructural and security challenges facing the institution had elicited the support of parents and guardians of the students to assuage some of the developmental challenges. Since then, the Forum has become a worthy developmental partner, helping to provide lecture seats and important laboratory equipment, perimeter fencing and construction of staff quarters as well as the just-completed Vice-Chancellor’s guest house. In effecting these notable developmental strides in the University, the Forum on their own decided that fresh and returning students would pay a development levy of N50, 000 and N5, 000 respectively. It is through this pool of fund, which is solely managed by them, that the association provides succor to the University.
VC’s guest house- a 3-bed room detached bungalow
The major beneficiaries of AE-FUNAI Parents’ Forum interventions are the students who now have conducive lecture seats unlike when they had to learn and write examinations, sitting on blocks. The ongoing perimeter fencing of the University where the engineering students are garnering hands-on experiences and industrial exposures was to ensure the security of lives and property on campus and prevent the menace of intruders who might put the lives of students in danger. Also, the construction of staff quarters would ensure that most staff live on campus and thus provide the needed ‘parental protection’ for students who were hitherto left alone when staff leave the campus after close of work each day. The Vice-Chancellor has continued to emphasize the culture of “in loco parentis”, where students are seen and treated as ‘sons and daughters’, not just mere students.
VC, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba in a relaxed mood with some principal officers inside the guest house
While inaugurating the project, the Vice-Chancellor stated that he came to the University with the sole purpose of building it and would not relent in that regard, adding that though his time was limited he would not rest on his oars until the University becomes one of the best in the country.
He urged everyone not to relent but to continue to work with him towards the development of the University for a better learning community, stressing that though the University has no money, yet it must be developed without losing the acceptable moral standard.
“We are making progress and history will remember all our various contributions towards the development of the University
“Developing this University is urgent. We do not have the money but we must find ways to do it.”
The Vice-Chancellor further praised the AE-FUNAI Parents’ Forum for their thoughtfulness and forthrightness in supporting the University through their various intervention projects and called on all stakeholders to support the activities of the Forum instead of trying to sabotage it.