Soludo to university stakeholders: You can disagree, but never lose sight of the goal

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By Madu Obi

The governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has told stakeholders in the universities not to lose sight of the goal while disagreeing among themselves.

Speaking during the combined convocation ceremony and 25th anniversary of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University at its Igbariam campus, Soludo, who is the Visitor to the university, acknowledged that disagreement is a culture in the university environment, but warned against playing to the gallery.

"Let us disagree, but in the end, let us not be so disagreeable that we lose sight of the ball", the governor said while reacting to alleged petitions by some staff of the university.

He promised to name the substantive Vice Chancellor of the university once the governing council recommends three people to him to select from.

He added: "This university has a world class chairman of governing council in the person of Professor Chidi Odinkalu and I believe that with the council's guidance, the university will know no bounds in terms of what it can do.

Let me assure that I will appoint a substantive VC soon and I urge the council to quicken the process. I will appoint the VC before the end of June and the council should therefore get us the three names. Once I get them, I will appoint the VC the same day.

Anambra is an 'A' state and we should have an 'A' university and we are ready to do anything that is feasible to make this happen."

Soludo acknowledged the contributions of the past governors of the state who made the university what it is, particularly its founder, the late Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju who, he said, will be honoured by the state government in the near future.

Describing education as "the now of tomorrow", Soludo said without education, there can be no future, adding that there is no better investment than the one made in education and health sectors.

He called on Anambra people to emulate those who had helped in one way or the other to improve education in the state and commended those who financed various projects in the institution, some of which were commissioned during the ceremony.

According to him, people are usually remembered by the legacies they left behind and not the amount they have in the banks, or the number of houses and vehicles they acquired.while alive.