Okpara Varsity Yet To Receive N10bn Take-off Grant – VC

Vice chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof Maduebibisi Iwe, has lamented that the university is yet to receive a N10billion grant recommended for its take-off.

Iwe stated this in his welcome address during the 11th convocation of the university, saying the grant was recommended by the 2016-2020 Visitation Panel to the university.

“The panel recommended that the federal government should as a matter of necessity grant the university a take-off grant of about N10bn for that purpose,” he said.

“We want to appeal to the Hon minister of agriculture to assist the university in realising the release of the fund for the development of the university.

“We would like to appreciate the effort of the former minister of agriculture and rural development, Dr. Muhammad Abubakar, in pursuing our appeals for the take-off grant to the ministry of finance,” he said.

He reminded the government that the university was established to groom students in agriculture and allied subjects including management sciences relevant to agriculture.

The vice chancellor, therefore, appealed to the government to relist the five courses in the College of Management Sciences that were delisted some five years ago.

He said the report of the last Visitation Panel stated the need to relist them by the National Universities Commission (NUC).