Anambra names varsity after Ojukwu

OjukwuThe Anambra State House of Assembly on Thursday passed a bill changing the name of the state-owned university at Uli to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University.

The bill was passed during the plenary of the legislature in Awka, the state capital, to honour the late Igbo leader.

The decision followed the report of the House Committee on Education, which recommended the change of the name.

Hon. Rita Maduagwu (APGA Nnewi South 2), the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, recalled that the bill had been read the second time on the floor of the House on December 17, 2013.

Maduagwu said that the committee found that the university’s name had been changed before from Anambra State University of Science and Technology and that there were a number of provisions in the extant law that required review.

She said: “After due consideration of facts and information, the committee recommends that the law establishing the university be repealed while a new law aimed at amending the principal law be passed.”

Hon. Valentine Ayika (PDP Njikoka1) said that the bill was due for passage since it was read second time in December 2013.

Hon. Tony Muonagor (APC Idemili North) said that the aim was to immortalise the late Odumegwu-Ojukwu and to encourage hard work among the people of the state and Nigeria at large.

Hon. Ebele Obi (APC Idemili South) said that the passage was a welcome development.

Hon. Obinna Emenakaya (APGA Anambra East) said that the application for the change of name was long overdue since it was meant to immortalise a man who fought and lived for the Igbo people.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chinwe Nwaebili, said that the university would be a multi-campus institution located in Awka, Igbariam and Uli.

Nwaebili said members of the committee on education did a good work and urged others to prove their worth on any assignment given at committee level or otherwise.