Rivers State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has donated a campus of the State University at Kira in Tai local government area of the state to the federal government for the takeoff of the newly established Federal University of Environment and Technology, Ogoni.
President Bola Tinubu recently signed into law a bill establishing the university as part of confidence-building measures ahead of the planned resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland.
Fubara spoke yesterday while inspecting the Kira campus of the RSU, which was built by the administration of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi as a model secondary school.
The governor stated that the facility handover followed a request by President Bola Tinubu, through the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, appealing for the release of the campus for the takeoff of the new university.
He said: “We came in for an inspection of this facility. This is one of the campuses of Rivers State University. We received a request from the National Security Adviser, appealing to the state government to release this facility for the takeoff of the newly approved Federal University of Environment and Technology for our people, the Rivers people, especially the Ogoni people because it is sited in Kira, Ogoniland.
“We are here to assess the place, as it is government property belonging to Rivers State University. We are also here for the University to update us on the status of the property. They have already provided us with written information, but I felt it was proper for us to conduct a physical assessment, and that is what we have just done.
“From what we have seen, it is a well-planned facility, and I strongly believe it is suitable for the takeoff of this University.
“Let me make this very clear: this property belongs to Rivers State University, and the University belongs to the Rivers State government.
Only the Rivers State Government has the right, through the University, to release it.
“We can assure the interested parties, especially the President, who, out of his goodwill, approved this University and the National Security Adviser, who requested that we release the facility, that after this visit, we shall officially transmit the letter of release for the takeoff of the University.
“We are doing this because, at the end of the day, the University will serve three major purposes. It will bring development, enhance the educational attainment of the Ogoni people, especially in the area of environmental impact and provide a study platform for addressing environmental challenges in this region.
“You know we have many environmental issues along this corridor, and this University will serve as a centre for study and research. Finally, it is an honour that this noble initiative is being established during our time, and we thank all the parties who initiated and made it a reality.
“We are also grateful to the University for maintaining this facility. From our assessment, it is evident that most of the structures were recently renovated in preparation for use. However, since I have the final authority, we will build another facility for Rivers State University, while this campus will be released for the new Federal University.”
