Anambra Varsity Renamed Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University

The Anambra House of Assembly on Thursday passed a bill, changing the
name of the state-owned university at Uli to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu
Ojukwu University.

The bill was passed during the plenary of the legislature in Awka to
honour the former Biafra hero.

The decision followed the report of the House Committee on Education
which recommended the change of the name.

Mrs Rita Maduagwu (APGA Nnewi South 2), the Chairman, House Committee
on Education, recalled that the bill had been read the second time on
the floor of the house on Dec. 17, 2013.

She said that the committee found that the university's name had been
changed before from Anambra State University of Science and Technology
and that there were a number of provisions in the extant law that
required review.

"After due consideration of facts and information, the committee
recommends that the law establishing the university be repealed while
a new law aimed at amending the principal law be passed," Maduagwu
said.

Mr Valentine Ayika (PDP Njikoka1) said that the bill was due for
passage since it was read second time in December 2013.

Mr Tony Muonagor (APC Idemili North) said that the aim was to
immortalise the late Ojukwu and to encourage hard work among the
people of the state and Nigeria at large.

Mr Ebele Obi (APC Idemili South) said that the passage was a welcome
development.

Mr Obinna Emenakaya (APGA Anambra East) said that the application for
the change of name was long over-due since it was meant to immortalise
a man who fought and lived for the Igbo people.

The Speaker, Mrs Chinwe Nwaebili, said that the university would be a
multi-campus institution located in Awka, Igbariam and Uli.

She said members of the committee on education did a good work and
urged others to prove their worth on any assignment given at committee
level or otherwise.

(NAN)