West African group partners UNIZIK on security, peace on campus

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By Madu Obi

The West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA), a nongovernmental organization, is to partner Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, to ensure security and peace on campus.

Speaking when officials of WAANSA visited him in Awka, the Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK, Professor Ugochukwu Anyaehie, described security as fundamental for any organization that seeks to achieve set goals and objectives.

Noting that the greatest form of security is preventive, Anyaehie affirmed that his administration would always support measures that guarantee peace and security in the institution.

"UNIZIK, as an institution, aligns with the objective of WAANSA Nigeria in promoting peace and orderliness in tertiary institutions in the West African subregion", the VC said.

Anyaehie thanked the group for the visit and their role in tackling security challenges across educational institutions in West Africa.

The Regional First Vice-President of WAANSA, Mr Martin Igwe, who led the team, explained that the visit was to discuss with UNIZIK management, ways of promoting peace in the institution, and nipping in the bud any form of violence, to enhance security in the university.

According to him, WAANSA Nigeria is a network of non-governmental organizations in West Africa working towards sustaining peace, eliminating pockets of violence and halting the menace of illegal proliferation of small arms within the West African subregion.

He said that the organization is already liaising with the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Committee of Vice-Chancellors on ways of identifying threats of insecurity capable of distracting and disrupting academic activities in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

Igwe congratulated Prof. Anyaehie on his appointment as the Vice-Chancellor of UNIZIK, expressing hope that his track record and achievements elsewhere would bring to bear in the running of the university.

Present during the courtesy visit were the Director of Programme of WAANSA Nigeria, Chidi George-Okoli and Administrative Secretary of WAANSA Nigeria, Diane Lawrence.