Prof Charles Igwe, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), has urged Enoch Utazi, the new Students Union Government (SUG) President of the university, to emulate the good performance of his immediate predecessor, Micheal Abuchi.
Igwe said this in Nsukka on Wednesday during the inauguration of new UNN SUG executives, elected on October 31, and projects executed by the outgone Abuchi administration.
He said that the administration of Abuchi remains the best in the history of UNN-SUG because of his good relationship with management and adequate attention to students welfare
He commended Abuchi for erecting two buildings in the campus in strategic locations that contained 10 toilet facilities each, buying two sienna vehicles to convey physically challenged students to lectures, and offering scholarship to some indigent students.
“This is the first time we are seeing this kind of achievements from SUGs in this university, the story of SUG in UNN will be incomplete without mentioning the administration of Abuchi.
“The management is happy with the Abuchi-led SUG and will like the newly- inaugurated administration of Utazi to emulate his good performance.
“The Sienna buses for physical challenged students will go a long way to end suffering encounter by them in going to lectures and other things.
He reminded the new SUG executives that their aim of coming to the university was academics and should not allow their involvement in students unionism to undermine their academic performance.
“I charge the new SUG executives to be serious with their academics, be role models to other students and agents of positive change,” he said.
The VC commended Prof. Edwin Omeje, the dean of students affairs, for dedication to duty as well as ensuring that SUG elections were transparent, credible, free and fair by using biometric election.
“My administration will continue to give infrastructures, staff and students’ welfares a priority,” Igwe promised.
In a remark, Omeje applauded the VC for his non-intervention and non-involvement in the SUG electoral process which had shown him as true father and democrat.
“The VC ensures that those appointed as members of the University of Nigeria Electoral Commission (UNECO) are men and women of proven integrity and character.
“This is the fourth time UNN is using biometric to conduct SUG elections and all have free and fair, an indication that UNN can conduct national election in the country with ease.
“I remind all executives inaugurated today that to whom much is given much is expected, you must be fair in all your dealings.
“You should always know that corruption destroys both the leaders and the governed, so see corruption as a leprous cancer that must be avoided at all costs,” he said.
Speaking, Abuchi thanked the Vice-Chancellor for his fatherly care and his interest in the welfare of the students, noting that he was able to achieve what he achieved because of support, and enabling environment provided for him by the VC.
“I thank, in a special way, the Vice-Chancellor, the Dean of Student Affairs, and other principal officers for their advice.
“It was their support and advice that motivated me and my team in undertaking and completing some projects, as well as maintaining peace and order among students in the campus,” he said.
In his acceptance speech, Utazi promised that his administration would give students’ welfare priority as well as maintain good relationship with the university management.
The highlights of the occasion were the inauguration of the new SUG Executives as well as the inauguration of projects executed by the Abuchi-led administration by the Vice-Chancellor.