Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi has been chosen by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN to deliver its 60th founders Day lecture.
Addressing newsmen on Monday in Enugu as part of activities marking the 60th Founders Day celebration, the Vice-chancellor of the UNN, Prof. Charlse Igwe, said the former governor will speak on “Nigeria at 60: The journey since the third Republic and the way forward”.
He said that Obi, an alumni of the institution, was chosen because of his reputation for being a credible and prudent manager of public funds and that through him, the UNN intends to attract support from all alumni.
He announced that the University will also flag off a capital campaign for the purpose of raising funds to address the perennial problem of inadequate infrastructure in the University.
“As you can imagine, one of the prices to pay for the age of the University is the problem of ageing and deteriorating infrastructure” he said.
He regretted that the UNN remains the only first generation University without a befitting senate building, hence the senate still meets at a make shift venue with plastic seats.
“There is also the challenge of inadequacy of spaces due to decades of rapid growth in the numbers of staff and students” he said adding that the lack of funds has made it impossible for the institution to match this growth in numbers with the required upgrade in infrastructure.
Igwe said the institution plans to also use funds, when raised, to generate its own electricity as the institution’s monthly energy bill currently stands at N70,000,000.00 (seventy million naira).
He recalled that the institution was established on the eve of Nigeria’s independence in 1960, hence it will be celebrating its Diamond jubilee.
The chairman of the Founders Day Lecture, which has been slated virtually for Wednesday, October 7th, except for Deans and Directors of the institution, is Dr. Tunde Lemo, a former Deputy Governor of the Central bank of Nigeria, CBN.
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