Gladness Gideon
Iyom Bianca Ojukwu, widow of Biafran war leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and Prof. Uche Azikiwe, wife of Nigeria’s first civilian president, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, have called on influential Nigerians to support the sustained development of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Anambra State.
The appeal was made during the Ojukwu Legacy Awards ceremony held Wednesday as part of events marking the Silver Jubilee of the university’s establishment. Both women commended the strides made by successive administrations but stressed the need for increased investment in infrastructure and academic excellence to honour Ojukwu’s enduring legacy.
In her keynote remarks, Acting Vice Chancellor of COOU, Prof. Kate Omenugha, highlighted the university’s transformation since its founding in 2000 by former Anambra State Governor, the late Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju. She credited the former governor and the then Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the late Hon. Barth Onugbolu, for their pivotal roles in establishing the institution.
“From a modest beginning, we now have 15 faculties and 73 academic programmes cutting across diverse fields—Arts, Sciences, Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Engineering, Technology, and Management,” Omenugha stated.
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One of the high points of the event was the presentation of the Ojukwu Legacy Awards to outstanding contributors and alumni. Industrialist Chief Emma Bishop Okonkwo, a recipient of the award, pledged to fund a N50 million borehole project for the university, ensuring a steady water supply for students and staff.
Other honorees included Mr. Ifeanyi Matthew Ihebom, Managing Director/CEO of EL/Matt Nigeria Limited; Engr. Paul Okafor, a former President of the Students Union Government (SUG); and 23 additional distinguished alumni.
Tributes were also paid to founding figures of the university, including Dr. Mbadinuju and Hon. Onugbolu, in recognition of their visionary leadership that led to the establishment of COOU on January 1, 2000.
The Silver Jubilee celebration served not only as a reflection of past achievements but also as a rallying call for strategic investment to shape the future of one of Anambra’s premier institutions of learning.