IMO STATE TO BUILD THREE MORE UNIVERSITIES

Three additional universities will be built in Imo State soon.

This disclosure was made by the Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha during an interactive session with leaders and political stakeholders from Oru-West Local Government Area held last week at the Sam Mbakwe Expanded EXCO Chambers, Government House, Owerri.

Speaking during the meeting, governor Okorocha expressed dissatisfaction with the present trend whereby only about 10% of secondary school leavers from Imo State are offered admission by the Joint Admission & Matriculation Board (JAMB) each year. According to the governor, about 100,000 students from Imo State apply for the JAMB Examination each year, hence the need to establish more universities in the State which will absorb most of the applicants.

Responding to a submission made by the Imo State Deputy Speaker, the Governor said that the contractor who constructed the Nnempi – Obolo- Amankwo road for which the sum of 213.4 million naira was paid in 2006 will be invited for questioning because the road project was not completed while the contractor is alleged to have collected full payment for the job.

Commenting on a statement made by one of the Traditional Rulers present at the occasion, the governor said that many teachers will be transferred to the schools in the rural areas because presently, the schools do not have enough teachers to take care of the academic needs of the students in those areas.

He thanked the People of Oru-West for the support they gave him during the last gubernatorial election in Imo State and promised to carry them along.

In a response, a frontline politician from Oru-West, Hon. Osita Izunaso said that all the political parties in Oru-West voted for Owelle Rochas Okorocha irrespective of their political party affiliations because they believe that Rochas is capable of providing solutions to the social and economic problems facing Imo State. He urged the people of Oru-West not to mix up governance with partisan politics so as to pave way for peace and progress in the State.

Also speaking, the Imo State Deputy Speaker and member representing Oru-West in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Donatus Ozoemena asked the governor to facilitate the restoration of electricity in some places at Mgbidi Community located in Oru-West LGA.

Dignitaries present at the occasion include the Imo State Deputy governor, Sir Jude Agbaso, the Transition Committee Chairman for Oru-West LGA, Chief John Okonkwo, Bishop Kenneth Obi and a host of others.