The National Universities Commission (NUC), has presented the operating certificate for the Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, Ogboko, to the Imo State government.
The handing over was performed by the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof Abubakar Adamu, at a brief event held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The handover puts to rest the tussle over ownership status of the university between former Governor Rochas Okorocha and the Imo State Government.
Incumbent Governor Hope Uzodinma administration had seized the university, which was previously known as the Eastern Palm University, Ogboko, from Okorocha and renamed it the Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwa University, Ogboko, Imo State.
With the handover, the NUC has recognized and approved the operational license of Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University Ogboko, Imo State, as the 42nd state-owned university in Nigeria.
Presenting the certificate, Prof Adamu congratulated Uzodimma and assured him of the commission’s readiness to assist the state in her academic strides.
The Executive Secretary also commended the governor for his vision to expand access to university education in Imo State and by extension, South- East region of the country.
The NUC boss noted that the commission would continue to work with the state to ensure the university takes its place among other universities.
He said, “By a copy of this letter, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) are being notified of this development.”
Receiving the Letter of Recognition, Governor Uzodinma commended the NUC for ensuring stability in the country’s universities system.
He said that the resolve to establish a state university was informed by the level of youth restiveness in the South-East.
He said, “Imo State is highly populated, we have a population of over five million and our youth population is very huge and it is also part of what has led to restiveness in the south east.
“Today is a very special day for me, we have come here today to receive the recognition letter from NUC for our brand new KO Mbadiwe University.
“This university that is fully owned by Imo State government has also provided us the opportunity to immortalize one of our foremost philanthropists, the late KO Mbadiwe of blessed memory.”
