NUC shuns Okorocha, hands over KO Mbadiwe University to Imo Govt

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has settled the tussle over the ownership of the KO Mbadiwe University, Ogboko, Imo State, in favour of the state government.

Executive Secretary of the NUC, Professor Rasheed Abubakar, on Wednesday presented the operating certificate for the university to the Imo State government.

Professor Abubakar, during the handing over at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, said the NUC recognised and approved the operational license of Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University Ogboko, as the 42nd state-owned university in Nigeria.

The handover puts to rest the tussle over ownership of the university between former governor Rochas Okorocha and the Imo State government.

Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma had seized the university, previously known as the Eastern Palm University, Ogboko, from Okorocha and renamed it Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, Ogboko, Imo State.

While presenting the certificate, Abubakar congratulated Governor Uzodimma and assured him of the commission’s readiness to assist the state in her academic strides.

READ: Imo reclaims government property ‘cornered’ by Okorocha

He commended the governor for his vision to expand access to university education in Imo State and by extension, the south east region of the country.

The NUC boss noted that the commission would continue to work with the state to ensure the university take its place of pride among other universities.

“By a copy of this letter, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) are being notified of this development,” he said.

While receiving the Letter of Recognition, the governor commended the NUC for ensuring stability in the country’s university system.

He said that the resolve to establish a state university was informed by the level of youth restiveness in Imo and the South-East in general.

The governor said: “Today is a very special day for me.

“We have come here today to receive the recognition letter from NUC for our brand-new KO Mbadiwe University, fully owned by Imo State government, which has also provided us the opportunity to immortalise one of our foremost philanthropists, KO Mbadiwe of blessed memory.”