Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has told an assessment team from the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), on the upgrade of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, to a university, that the project is dear to Imo people.
He said the people are not just interested in the upgrade but are also excited about it.
The governor thanked the assessment team and prayed that its recommendations would be consistent with the desires and expectations of the people of Imo State.
Governor Uzodimma recalled how he got two letters from the federal government on the approval for Federal University Teaching Hospital from the Federal Medical Centre Owerri and another on the upgrade of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education to a Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, and the excitement that greeted the announcement when he communicated the good news to Imo people.
He said they had been waiting for the consummation of both ideas and assured the team that the government and people of Imo State would do whatever is expected of them to ensure a smooth running and implementation of the upgrade in line with their assessment.
“The government and people of Imo State are ready to provide them,” the governor said.
The team leader, a director in the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Mrs. Uche Uba, said they were in Imo State to carry out a comprehensive audit on the present status of the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education for upgrade to a university.
She said the audit included the physical structures, academic structures and any other thing that would enhance and support the upgrade of such nature.
Dr. Uba said they had completed their assignment and thought it wise to inform the governor about what they came to do before returning to Abuja to submit their report.
