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From Obinna Odogwu, Awka
The Vice-Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Prof. Kate Omenugha, has dismissed as untrue the social media rumours indicating that suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded the campus and kidnapped some students.
Omenugha, at the maiden meeting between the parents and guardians of students of the university and the management, held at TETFund Auditorium, described the stories as false. She made it clear that such a thing did not happen.
“There is the rumour of our students being kidnapped in the university. There are stories of Fulani herdsmen invading the hostels. We are here to tell you that this did not happen. No student of ours was kidnapped within our premises”, she stated clearly.
The Vice-Chancellor, however, lamented the risk of insecurity her students are exposed to, saying that the private hostels where they live outside the university premises have no security guarantees.
“Another key challenge is the hostels where students live. The areas where they live may not be as secure as the university. Yet they live there.
“Many parents do not even know where their children live. Some of the areas allow unrestricted movements in and out of the hostels. Students leave at any time of the night in these new found freedom areas”, she said.
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The VC pointed out that the “greatest bane of the university is its almost non residential nature”, revealing that “less than five percent of the students live in the hostels.”
“And this is a big risk for parents and the students”, she emphasised.
Omenugha appealed to financially capable individuals to support the university with hostel accommodations, vehicles, and others, saying that she has already put up some Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements that could be explored for that purpose.
“The number of students that have mishaps on the road through bikes is increasing. Transportation is a key challenge”, she added.
Coordinator of the COOU Parents’ Forum, Dr. Chijioke Okoye, in his speech, said that the VC considered the meeting important because there was a need for parents to collaborate with the university management in the formation of their children.
“The parents need to get direct information on what is happening in the academic formation of their children. It’s no longer a situation whereby you stay at home and you don’t partake in what is happening”, he said.
