•Class of 1979 graduands donates magnificent building to engineering faculty
From Felix Ikem, Nsukka
The Faculty of Engineering’s Class of 1979 graduands of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has donated a fully equipped three-storey building to the faculty to enhance a conducive environment for teaching and learning.
The faculty building has different components, including library section, administrative and staff offices, classrooms and conference hall, among others, with Internet facilities.
Chairman of the alumni building committee, Obi Iloanusi, at the official handover of the building to the UNN recently, disclosed that the edifice was erected and equipped at the cost of N135 million.
“In the spirit of giving back, I on behalf of the entire members of the faculty of engineering class of 1979, present to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in general and its Faculty of Engineering in particular, this Class of 79 faculty building.
“This 3-storey building houses a modern library on the upper floor fully equipped with relevant current engineering books as well as computers to facilitate the deployment of an e-library.
“The middle floor houses offices for lecturers and administrative staff while the ground floor houses two large classrooms. The entire building is equipped with internet connectivity,” he said.
The alumni class also presented the Master Plan for the Faculty of Engineering’s future re-development, Fibre Optic Network covering all buildings in the faculty of engineering and landscaping and paving around the building.
The Class of ‘79 in the course of the intervention also realized that future development of the faculty will require a structured approach hence they went further to create a development plan which “we hope will be easier for the faculty to direct future donors on what to and where to situate their interventions.”
Vice-chancellor of UNN, Prof. Charles Igwe, who received the remarkable donation, commended the donors for their well-thought-out magnanimity.
He urged other alumni of UNN to emulate their good example and remember to give something back to their alma mater that made them what they are now.
“Popular universities in the world like Oxford, and Harvard are giants in teaching and learning because of huge investments of the alumni to their alma mater,” he said.
The VC urged staff and students of the faculty to ensure that the building was put into proper use as well as see the good gesture of the Class of ‘79 as a challenge to excel more in teaching and learning.
Remarking, Dean Faculty of Engineering, UNN, Prof Emenike Ejiogu, thanked the alumni, saying that the gesture would create a friendlier and more enabling environment for teaching and learning.
“Already, the Class of ‘85 and Class of ‘95 have keyed in and their intervention is at an advanced stage. On our part, the faculty, we have created a Faculty of Engineering Committee on Infrastructure and Utilities, to help coordinate, manage, and maintain these infrastructures bequeathed to the faculty,” he said.
Ejiogu further appealed that the staff and students of the faculty desire to have a Faculty of Engineering Consultancy and Project Execution Unit (FECONPEU), that will engage in projects to generate revenue for the faculty. He added that the unit would also help train students and younger staff in hands-on engineering practices.
Some staff and students who spoke said the new faculty building was a great relief as it had brought to an end the problem of office accommodation and internet facilities facing the faculty.
Patrick Akpan, a senior lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, said for 14 years, he had been sharing an office with other lecturers but with the new faculty building, every lecturer now has an office.
President of the Faculty of Engineering students, Rosemary Igwe, said students of the faculty would forever remain grateful to the Class of ‘79 for providing a conducive learning environment for them.
“Any student in engineering faculty who doesn’t make a good grade on graduation would have himself or herself to blame,” she said.