DELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has urged experienced Nigerians to continuously contribute their quota to building a better country.
According to him, Nigeria still requires experienced hands in the area of security, infrastructure development and human capital development, stating that those who have retired based on official age but believes they still have something to offer for the growth of the nation should not relent in doing so.
The Governor spoke yesterday [9-6-14] when he paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor of University of Nigeria (UNN), Prof. Bartho Okolo shortly before he commissioned B.I.C. Ijeoma’s Centre For Social Research (also called Sociology Building) donated by the Delta State government to the institution.
“Nigeria today need a lot of experienced persons to handle issues that bothers on security, infrastructure and more importantly, human capital development,” the Governor said.
He stated that the Sociology Building “was sponsored in honour of one of our very best who passed through this institution, Prof. B.I.C. Ijeoma,” adding, “UNN is one of the foremost universities in Nigeria and we are glad that the tradition of UNN is still being kept till today.”
In particular, Governor Uduaghan commended the University authority for keeping the green environment, asserting, “the world is going green and when I see a community like this, I am very happy.”
The Governor congratulated Prof. Okolo for a successful tenure as the Vice Chancellor of the University, saying, “I thank God for your life and that you are ending your tenure and ending it very well.”
At the Commissioning exercise which was attended by members of the Delta State executive council, Prof. Ijeoma in whose honour the structure was built, Chief Godwill Obielum, among other politicians, Governor Uduaghan thanked everybody in the University for assisting the Vice Chancellor for recording success.
“We are here to honour Prof. B.I.C. Ijeoma who is a pioneer of so many things who today is also a pioneer with a centre named after him,” Dr Uduaghan said, adding, we have great people from Delta State who are been honoured.
He urged students to shun such vices like cultism and examination malpractice and take the likes of Prof. Ijeoma as mentors and avoid crave for material wealth against quality education and decent environment.
“Today, we are here to honour someone who has made a mark, many are honoured when they have died but, we decided to honour our own when he is alive,” he stated.
Prof. Okolo at the occasion, observed that the structure has saved students the rigors of “taking their lectures at the stadium, there was no single lecture hall for the students of Sociology in the university,” adding, “you have touched the hearts of the students and the institution.”
Responding, Prof. Ijeoma thanked Governor Uduaghan for what he is doing for him and his family stating, “Today, you re honoring me again with this centre, this is d first time, I believe I am qualified for this because of my passion for my alma mater, God has used you to keep me living.”
“He has a foresight which many Nigerians do not have and is not carried away by oil wealth but is thinking of what we should do to prepare for period when oil dries up, Nigeria needs him at the centre because he has shown that the ideas within him goes beyond Delta State,” Prof. Ijeoma said, adding, “by honoring a product of this university, you are encouraging others to toe your line.”
The President, Student Union Government, Comrade Christian Agu, thanked the Governor and the people of Delta State for honoring the first President of SUG in UNN while the President, Nigerian Sociology/Anthropology Student Association (NSASA), UNN Chapter, Nnaji Ikenna said, “we thank you for extending your benevolent nature to us by erecting a building for the department thereby, giving us a foothold and an academic mansion in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.”
National President of the UNN Alumni Association, Barr. Andrew Oru on behalf of the alumnus presented award to the Governor. Several other awards were presented by different associations to the Governor.
