Governor Udom Emmanuel has assured the Governing Council of University of Uyo of his government’s readiness to construct hostel blocks in the campus to ease accommodation challenges confronting students of the Institution.
The Governor gave the assurance at Government House, Uyo, when he played host to the Chairman of the Governing Council and Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Professor. Kimse A.B.Okolo accompanied by the Vice chancellor, Professor Enefiok Essien, and other members of the Council.
He announced that the Hostel Block Projects has been included in the
2017 Budget for implementation and that the ecological challenges threatening the University environment would be given
priority by the World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Environment
intervention programme.
Governor Emmanuel explained that due to economic downturn the state does not have adequate funds to intervene in the erosion challenges across the state and directed the Commissioner for Works, Akparawa Ephraim Inyang, to follow up on the design and execution of the Dual Carriage Way promised the University during the last convocation.
On the construction of Engineering Block by ExxonMobil, the Governor said “negotiation was on course with the multinational
company” and expressed optimism that as a responsible corporate citizen the firm would not renege on its pledge.
He, however, drew the Council’s attention to downward trend in the oil
industry and appealed to the Council to allow the State Government negotiates on its behalf with the management of ExxonMobil on the
project.
The Governor also frowned at encroachment on lands belonging to the institution, saying decisive steps have been taken to forestall such acts and informed the University that its Annex Campus, being the former School of Arts and Science, belongs to the state as indicated in the Master Plan and sued for its return.
Governor Emmanuel, who commended the University for upholding high academic standard, pledged to partner the institution in its
development strides.
Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor, Professor Kimse Okolo, lauded the giant
strides recorded by the Udom Emmanuel-led administration and solicited the inclusion of the University in its development programmes.
The Pro-Chancellor used the occasion to congratulate the Governor on
his attainment of the Golden Age and presented a birthday card to him.
