Chinedum Elekwachi
An alumnus of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state, Engr Austin Odoemene has called on the management to be intentional about students accommodation to ensure adequate, conducive and affordable hostels in the university.
He also urged the authority to make deliberate efforts towards improving the welfare of the students on campus.
Odoemene gave the advice during the tour of the institution by Class of 2000 Electrical Electronics and Computer Engineering of the University which he belonged to.
The tour was part of the activities marking their 25th silver jubilee reunion.
Odoemene, an Information Technology Security consultant, is also former banker who had developed more than a decade career in information technology.
He listed the welfare interventions to include provision of adequate water supply, installation of solar street lights around the campus and hostel areas, improve security by installation of CCTV security cameras.
“This as a wake up call for an improvement on the welfare of the student which include security, accommodation and transportation,” he added.
Down in history
Recalling with nostalgia the environmental and transportation challenges his set faced 30 years ago, Odoemene enjoined the management to ensure adequate supply of shuttle buses in and around the campus environment.
He frowned at proximity of hostels to each other in the campus, urging university governing board to create boundaries between academics and leisure.
While conducting the group round the university, one of the alumnus, and a member of the organising committee, Prof Stephen Ufoaroh appreciated God for keeping them alive to witness the unprecedented growth and development in the institution.
Ufoaroh, a lecturer in the institution and former Chairperson, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) UNIZIK said, “It’s a pleasure to be on ground to take my classmates round the university community, many of who have not visited since graduation.
“They were excited seeing so many changes, including infrastructure compared to when we were around.
“Some couldn’t even recognize the school again. But thank God we’re alive, not just to witness the development but to the part of the success story.”
