by amaechi kingsley
The Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical province, Arch. Anthony Obinna, has planned to have a Catholic University for Owerri Archdiocese with the aim of minimizing immorality in tertiary institutions and the plight of Imo candidates seeking admission all over Nigeria.
The Archbishop, who disclosed this during this year Obiri Odenigbo meeting held recently at Maria Assumpta Cathedral, stated that the matter for the proposed “Assumpta University” had sprung-up severally at their previous meetings, as he recalled that the visit by an official of the National University Commission (NUC), was to appeal for the need of “Assumpta University”.
Archbishop Anthony noted that his involvement with Veritas University, the Catholic University of Nigeria, has aroused his awareness on the capital intensive nature of starting and running a university which made him hesitant in pushing through the project stressing his worry on the lack of industries and plants to absorb all prospective graduates of Imo origin, he added that his contact at the NUC had lamented on the alarming statistics with disappointments faced by Imo Candidates seeking admission all over Nigeria.
The Archbishop’s address further stated that he had received a letter from the Special Adviser to Governor Rochas Okorocha on Policy and Strategic Affairs indicating that he had been asked “to discuss the policy of the State Government aimed at supporting private institutions and groups in Imo State to set up Private Universities and/or Higher Institutions.”
A policy which he said “stems from the fact that Imo State has the highest number of applicants for the annual Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations and has the highest number of students in private Universities across the Federation, yet no private university or higher institution exists in Imo State at the moment.”
The Archbishop confirmed that he had preliminary discussions on a possibilities of starting-up “Assumpta University” with SA to Governor Rochas Okorcha, as promises has sprung up by the government for the proposed university, Archbishop Obinna had stated that he would be happier if the government help starts at the primary and secondary levels.
Similarly, Catholic Bishops who have meet and brainstormed on the question of quality education in our country, have hinged on the issue of partnership between Church and state in the provision of quality education to all children, adding that the right and roles of parents in educating their children must be recognized.
The bishops further stated that the provision of quality education should involve the government, parents, religious institutions and other corporate bodies as Nigerian children studying in mission and private schools should not be discriminated against, but have equal right to be properly educated and urge Imo state Government to reinstate grants-in-aid to mission schools, in order to make quality education affordable.
Former Governor Peter Obi of Anambra Sate and Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State were recognized for promoting good partnership in education between Church and State to the overall benefit of the people as they said they are still expecting the Imo State Government to take more seriously Church-State partnership for the sake of all Imo Children and students.
Meanwhile, the Archbishop had expressed bitterness on the immoral acts of some undergraduates of tertiary institutions in Imo state, stating that the co-habitation of male and female students in their private hostels, especially around Imo State University due to the absence of hostels on campus have posed negative consequences, he added that the “negative consequences of such immorality are enormous for individuals, families, church and the wider society”.
Facts have shown that most hostels situated within our tertiary institutions are privately owned, a convenience that provides shelter for over 70% of student’s resident within the campus environ most especially those in Imo state University and other higher institutions in the state have continually considered co-habitation as a normal thing for campus-life.
