We Need Catholic University in Imo State

Back to history, the church brought Western Education in Nigeria as far back as the 18th Century. Since then till today rapid development and technology, have been expanding the Education industry in the society. It started with elementary schools to secondary schools and to university or tertiary institutions of different categories according to their names and types. In early 19th century when the secondary products of Nigerians needed to further their education to university level, it was outside the country that they were given the opportunity to study at the schools, like Furabay College at Sierre Leone, few universities in London, and, USA to mention, but a few. Today in Nigeria, there are more than…

Varsity don warns on neglect of African indigenous languages

-As African Regional Conference ends in Ghana A university don, Rev. Fr. Dr. Longinus Chukwuemeka Chinagorom has noted that the increasing neglect of the indigenous languages of Africa is weighing down on the economic potentialities of the Africans. Fr. Chinagorom raised this alarm in a paper he presented at the African Regional Conference on Sustainable Development  held at the University of Ghana Business School, Legon, July 25-26, 2013. The theme of the conference was: “Perspectives on Developing and Sustaining the African Economy: Multi-Sectional Approach”. Dr. Chinagorom, who is the Head of Department of Linguistics and Igbo, Imo State University Owerri, made reference to the UNESCO document of 1953 with the resume that humans amass their…

FUTO holds Intellectual Products Exhibition

The 2013 FUTO Intellectual Products Exhibition tagged FUTOLITE has ended at the university’s convocation arena, July 2.  It was declared open by the Chairman of the 10th Governing Council of the University, Dr. (Chief) E.M.I. Enemuo. In his opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Chigozie Asiabaka said that the institution was established in 1981 as a foremost university of technology in the country with a mandate among others to “operate practical and result-oriented programmes and training geared towards transforming the nation’s economy from consumer-oriented with a sound technological base”. By this mandate, FUTO was commissioned to be the hub of technological transform of Nigeria, he added. He said that FUTO stands out in accomplishment and fulfillment…

Letter of Appreciation

Your Grace;   I am sending this letter of thanks and the article I wrote for The Wanderer on our recent pro-life mission trip to Nigeria.  It is also coming to you by mail, but I am sending it this way just in case the mailed letter gets lost or long delayed. – Brian Clowes   Most Rev. Anthony J.V. Obinna Archbishop of Owerri Villa Assumpta Post Office Box 85 Owerri, Imo State Nigeria June 18, 2013   Your Grace;   I have returned safely to my family and friends and have recovered from jet lag.  Now all I have to do is catch up with all of my assignments! Of all of the many…

FUTO VC counts blessings, challenges – After two years in office

The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Chigozie C. Asiabaka (KSM) was two years in office on June 19, 2013, having assumed office on June 19, 2011. To mark the second anniversary as the 6th substantive Vice-Chancellor of FUTO, Prof. Asiabaka addressed the press, June 17, during which he counted his blessings, prospects and challenges. Reflecting on the past two years, Asiabaka said: “We have indeed made remarkable and commendable progress towards re-positioning this university to world class standard”, adding that the laudable success which they have recoded so far would not have been possible without the support of the academic, administrative and other non-teaching staff of the university. He listed what he…

Engr. Obinna Nshirim: Spread the Money…

For a man who’s been around politics for most of his life, Engr Obinna Nshirim should know when a politician is playing politics or playing to the gallery. Additionally, for a man whose dream of obtaining good education was nearly aborted by lack of a mere two naira, in 1970, Engr. Nshirim also knows how to praise a Governor who removes school fees and tries to clean up the education system, especially primary and secondary. Even when it seems Engr. Nshirim is contradicting himself, one thing is certain; he knows the terrain well, having been around political circles for long.  From his undergraduate days at University of Benin until now, he’s been in politics, although…

No buying of Text-Books from Lecturers – VC tells students

-As IMSU SUG inaugurates Exco The students of the Imo State University, Owerri have been warned seriously to desist from illegal levies charged by their lectures.  This was part of the address made by the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university on May 28, 2013 at the school auditorium during the inauguration of 12-man executive members of the Student Union Government (SUG) 14th Republic. In his address, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie thanked the Governor of the State, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha on his efforts at making the university a focal point of his administration.  According to the former National ASUU Chairman, “all of you are studying tuition free through his generous…

MEN OF GOD AS DEMIGODS IN NIGERIA

Quite instinctively, Nigerians see any person who goes by the name, “man of God” as a demigod. Some of us who are familiar with societal arrangement and power-relations in the Nigerian society and are able to make comparisons with what obtains outside the shores of the country never cease to marvel at the enormous powers the “man of God” wields in Nigeria. Being a “man of God” becomes a veritable privileged position that gives one access to nearly every good thing under heaven. Perhaps this state of affairs is not bad in itself, for what is wrong giving due respect and honor to a member of our society who received (or claims to have received)…

Ojukwu and the discourse of disunity

He came from a wealthy stock. He was educated in the best schools. He was a soldier. He was a radical. He was an adept. Some will describe him as unpatriotic, while others see him as a nationalist. Some see him as a villain and others see him as a hero who fought for justice. In life and in death, Ojukwu appeared to have embodied the paradoxes of life and its extremes. Notwithstanding his rare characteristics represented in a somewhat mystic personality, the name Ojukwu will for a long time remain synonymous with the defunct Biafra. As the ex-warlord of Biafra, Ojukwu was a historic figure upon which the apparent ethnic and tribal disquiet in…

POLYNEK LECTURE: Varsity VC lists criteria for True Democratic System

Professor Boniface Egboka, Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa has identified true democratic system as one anchored on the development of appropriate institutions. This fact was contained in a convocation lecture he delivered at the convocation ceremony of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri on Wednesday June5, 2013. The University don, whose topic was, Democracy and good Government: An imperative for political stability and Economic Development in Nigeria, posited that this could be achieved through developing stronger vehicles for formal political participation and representation through political parties and electoral systems. It could also be achieved through improving governance in political parties, promoting the participation of minorities and women, building electoral systems and limiting the distorting influence…

International Health Conference Ends In FUTO

Nigerians are careless with their health – Asiabaka A three-day international health conference has ended at the Federal University of technology Owerri (FUTO), May 23. The conference with the theme: Global Health: Issues, Challenges and Management, was organized by the Centre for Women, Gender and Development Studies in collaboration with the Institute of Environmental Health Technology, FUTO. In her welcome address, the Acting Director, Centre for Women, Gender and Development Studies FUTO, Dr. Mrs. Ihuoma Asiabaka defined global health as the health of people in a global contest and transcends the perspectives and concerns of individual nations.  “It is about worldwide improvements of health, reduction of disparities and protection against global threats that disregard national…

Some Vice-Chancellors, Rectors are power drunk – Prof. Jude Njoku, former FUTO VC

Many Nigerian leaders, including heads of universities and tertiary institutions become power dunk on assumption of duty, forgetting that sooner or later they will step down from their Olympian heights and become ordinary citizens. Prof. Jude Ejike Njoku, made the observation in a paper he delivered at the First Foundation Lecture of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) Imo State, May 16. In the lecture titled: “Academic Research and Leadership: A Challenging Experience”, Prof. Njoku reminded Vice-Chancellors and others that they hold power in trust for God and humanity and therefore should use them judiciously and with the fear of God. Njoku, a Professor of Agricultural Economics and former Vice-Chancellor of FUTO noted that:…

Silver Jubilee anniversary: An act of thanksgiving – Bishop Ukwuoma

–     As Prof. & Mrs. Tony Uzoma clock 25 years in marriage It was all joy and merriments as Prof. Anthony Uwandu-Uzoma and Mrs. Beatrice Ifeyinwa Uzoma marked their silver jubilee wedding anniversary at St. Gregory’s Catholic Parish Amaigbo, Nwangele LGA, Imo State on Saturday, May 11, 2013. The silver jubilee celebration commenced with a concelebrated Eucharistic Mass presided over by the chief shepherd of Orlu diocese, Most Rev. Dr. A.T. Ukwuoma and assisted by about 50 priests from different dioceses of Igboland, including Very Rev. Fr. Patrick Ibole, Vicar-General Owerri Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Dr. Alphonsus Oha, Chancellor, Owerri Archdiocese and Rev. Fr. Prof. Louis Asiegbu of the Federal University of Technology Owerri. Delivering a…

Mr. Chucks Obiodu: DRIVEN BY PASSION

With a passion for business and a determination to be a haulage contractor just like his father, young Chucks Obiodu went to school knowing exactly what he wanted to do for a living. When life wanted to take him down a different path, he quickly made a U –turn and returned to his dream. Although his older siblings took up jobs in mining, telecommunications, teaching and health sectors, Chucks, the last of five children, preferred to stick with his father. Even so, the young Chucks did not choose his dad so he could work for him or inherit the business after him. All he wanted was a role model which he found in his father….

ACHEBE AND THE INVENTION OF AFRICAN LITERATURE (1)

came strong on the world stage with the publication of his first novel, Things Fall Apart. It is a work widely considered to have defined African literature and brought balance to world literature. This is despite the fact that there were other pioneering efforts regarding African prose by African indigenous writers. By 1933 Omenụkọ by Pita Nwana had been published, followed by the Onitsha Market Literature through which Cyprian Ekwensi published pamphlet stories like Ikolo the Wrestler and Other Ibo Tales (1947) and When Love Whispers (1948). These were before Amos Tutuola’s The Palm-Wine Drinkard (1952), which many regard as the pioneer novel form in English language by an indigenous African. However, it is Chinua…

FUTO 10th Governing Council inaugurated

-We are not here to run the university – Chairman The internal members of the10th Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) have been inaugurated. Speaking while inaugurating the Council, May 8, 2013 the Pro-chancellor of the University Dr. Emma Enemuo (MD), declared his intention to operate an open-door policy, by being accessible to anybody or group of people who for one reason or the  another may wish to speak with him on issues of concern to the university or to themselves. Dr. Enemuo who is also the chairman of the Governing Council, said their functions are essentially advisory, supervisory, oversight, policy formulation and implementation, adding that, “we are not here to…

Dr Joe Obi-Njoku : Rising from the Grassroots

Imagine him chopping wood with an axe.  Imagine him also shirtless, barefoot, a climbing robe “akpi” on his left shoulder and a machete in his right hand, dividing the bush and heading for the nearest palm tree to cut down the ripe fruits for sale, so he and his family could eat.   Imagine him again taking bamboos from the raffia palm and carefully weaving the traditional bamboo bed – “okpukpo,” (agada in some dialet)  also to make a living. Finally, see him riding an old bicycle from his home at Umueme, Uzagba, in Ikeduru local government, to Mbaise to go to college.   That’s the life of Dr Joe Obi-Njoku, as a young man,…