*Backs reforms
By Chijioke Attah
The National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS) has passed a vote of confidence on the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN), Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya.
Speaking during a solidarity visit by the leadership of NANS, zlZone F (South East), to the university’s management, the students’ body described Prof. Ortuanya as a leader with proven integrity and verifiable administrative competence.
This latest endorsement was made barely one month NANS national body gave the VC an award of recognition for being students’ friendly.
The leader of the delegation and Zonal Coordinator of NANS, Comrade Emmanuel Ikechukwu Obi, said the students’ body had closely monitored developments in the university and could attest to the Vice-Chancellor’s commitment and capacity to address the myriad of challenges he inherited.
According to him, “we have been following events in the university and can confidently affirm that the Vice-Chancellor has demonstrated strong leadership in tackling the institution’s challenges”.
Reacting to the viral social media report of the eviction of a visually-impaired student from the university hostel, the NANS Coordinator said the association conducted independent investigation and found the allegation to he false.
The students’ leaders however sought clarifications on the university’s plans to renovate aging hostels that were no longer in tune with modern accommodation standards.
They appealed to the management to reconsider the ban on students nightlife on campus.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ortuanya in his response, commended the delegation for seeking clarifications and firsthand information rather than relying on unverified social media reports.
He acknowledged the poor state of some hostel infrastructure inherited by his administration, but assured that a comprehensive intervention was already in progress.
According to him, “contracts have been awarded for the renovation of four hostels including the Eni-Njoku male hostel, Eyo-Ita, Balewa, and Nkrumah hostels; while external reconstruction will commence very soon, interior work will begin once students vacate the hostels”.
Ortuanya further disclosed that four additional hostels were currently under construction at the university’s college of medicine to serve students in the Faculties of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, and Nursing Sciences.
He reiterated that plans were also in progress for the renovation of Zik’s flat and the development of new hostels through public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements.
The VC highlighted eight policy reforms introduced by his administration to include a disability policy meant to protect staff and students living with disabilities.
“As a former speaker of the Students’ Parliament, I understand the language of students and we are committed to protecting their interests”, he said.
He called on NANS to collaborate with his administration in its ongoing transformation efforts, while pleading for patience to consolidate the gains recorded and turn things around within the next one year.
Ortuanya assured that while the university would continue to improve students accommodation, students should also take responsibility for maintaining facilities through adoption of proper sanitary regulations and processes.
The Vice-Chancellor added that in view of the cordial relationship existing between the management and the Students’ Union Government, he would evaluate the security situation in the university, with a view to lifting the ban on students’ nightlife on campus.
