NUC Opposes Okorocha’s 6 Universities Agenda, Few Weeks To End Of Tenure

The National Universities Commission has risen against the quest of outgoing governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha for establishment of six more universities in the state.

Okorocha has barely one month to stay in office, and his renewed push for a whole six universities in the state, has been the talk in many quarters, with many questioning his motive now, when he had the whole of eight years to actualize such.

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The Deputy Governor of  the state, Eze Madumere, is among those fiercely attacking Okorocha, saying it will take 25 to 30 years for the state to recover from the damage he had done to the socio-economic status of the state.

Whatever, the National Universities Commission (NUC) is standing in the way of the outgoing governor concerning the more universities’request, instead granting approval for only one for the state – Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.

The NUC issued a letter to the effect on Thursday in Abuja.

Executive Secretary of the NUC, Professor Abubakar Rasheed, presented the letter of recognition of the university to Governor Okorocha at a brief ceremony in Abuja, where he insisted that the Commission was opposed to the proliferation of universities.

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The other proposed institutions as listed by the Governor are: University of Medical Sciences, University of Science and Technology, University of Creative Technology and two other faith-based universities to be run through public-private-partnership.

Okorocha, in his earlier remark, said the decision to establish more state universities was to cater for a large number of Imo indigenes who seek annually university education through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) but only about 10 per cent are offered admissions

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He said since the last seven years, Imo has consistently topped in terms of applicants for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Besides, he said the proposed universities were specialised institutions that would contribute to the development of critical manpower needed in the state and the nation at large.