Odii promises to revamp ailing institutions of higher learning in Ebonyi
Chief IfeanyiChukwuma Odii, the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi, on Friday in Abakaliki held a town hall meeting with students from the various tertiary institutions in the state.
Odii, addressing the students, who were represented by their different Students Union Governments (SUGs) leadership, said that his administration would prioritise higher education to improve learning and research if elected.
He promised to revamp the ailing state-owned tertiary educational institutions, including the Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki, and the Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo, (ESCOI), for better service delivery.
The PDP standard-bearer who highlighted the importance of higher education in nation-building, also pledged to improve infrastructures in federal-owned higher institutions in the state.
He urged the students to shun cultism and all forms of anti-social behaviour that could put their future and educational attainment in jeopardy.
He further urged them to shun substance abuse and to resist being used as political thugs by politicians in the forthcoming general elections.
Odii called on the students to join in the ‘Take-back’ Nigeria campaign by participating effectively in the election process.
“I urge you to remain change agents. As you know, youths are nation builders; you must shun all acts likely to undermine the current electoral process by doing the right thing and voting according to your conscience.
“By the grace of God, our government that is coming will tackle the decay in the various institutions of higher learning so that you can learn under a very conducive environment; this is our commitment and we must bring it to pass,” Odii said.
Odii, who also promised to grow the state’s economy through industrialisation if elected, announced that he would award scholarships to the best students from secondary, tertiary and higher degrees students.
“We have no fewer than 2,000 students benefitting from our university scholarships pursuing different academic programmes in universities and other institutions of higher learning within Nigeria and overseas under the Ebele-Anyichuks Foundation,” he added.
Earlier, Mr Humphrey Nwuruku, the director of Students Affairs in the PDP Governorship Campaign Council (GCC), who spoke on behalf of the students, said that students were poised to bring the desired change through voting for credible candidates during the election.
He commended the gubernatorial candidate for promising to prioritise education in the state, assuring that the Nigerian students in the various institutions of higher learning are solidly behind his aspiration.
“Your Excellency, we thank you for finding time to meet with us despite your very tight programme.
“We thank you for your promise to revamp tertiary education in the state for improved learning and research because sound education is the best form of legacy to bequeath to the people.
“We assure you that we will continue to be good ambassadors of our various institutions and that we will project the positive image of the state and the country in general in all our conduct.
“Again, we assure you of our support and commitment towards the realisation of the governorship project,” Nwuruku said.
Others, who spoke, called for peaceful electioneering campaigns and urged the electoral to ensure the conduct of inclusive, credible, free and fair elections.
NAN reports that the students union representatives from EBSU, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo (AEFUNAI), EBSCOI, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Uwana, in Afikpo, attended the meeting. (NAN)