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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
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The governor also approved the conduction of feasibility study on the proposed Azumini – Obeaku – Sea Port and Inland Waterways Corridor project in the state.
Governor Otti, who gave the directive while receiving in audience a delegation of the management of the NOUN, led by Professor Uduma Orji Uduma in his office, called on Nigerians to embrace digital and distance education, which he described as the way to go in the contemporary time. Otti noted that NOUN pioneered virtual learning in Nigeria.
“It is interesting that National Open University of Nigeria pioneered an effort, decades ago, when the world had not gone virtual. But, today, I sit here and hold meetings with people in New York and Singapore.
“That is what learning has become. Distance, Open, Virtual, Zoom, Google meet and all the platforms for distance learning and virtual meetings have become the order of the day. So, we have no choice but to embrace it.” Otti approved the siting of the Aba Study Centre of the NOUN, and directed the Commissioner for Tertiary Education to do a feasibility study on how to fix and upgrade the Umuahia study centre, in response to the requests made by the Vice Chancellor of the institution.
“On your request to support in upgrading the place (Umuahia centre), I would like the Honourable Commissioner for Tertiary Education to take that up together with other members of the team.
“On the request for a study centre in Aba, I think that one is a no-brainer. It has to be done. So, the General Manager of the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA), please take that up and let’s find a place for them.”
The governor thanked the team for the good job they are doing at NOUN and for establishing a study centre in Asaga Ohafia as well as the one in the state capital, and congratulated the Ebonyi State-born Vice Chancellor on his appointment.
Otti disclosed that his government pays a lot of attention to education, adding that in the last three years, he has committed 20 percent of the annual budget to education, informing that soon, he will be commissioning three smart schools in the state.
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The leader of the delegation and Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Professor Uduma Orji Uduma, had earlier told the governor the visit was to solicit for partnership with the government, for the establishment of a study centre in Aba, describing open and distant learning as the way to go in the 21st Century. Prof Uduma informed that the university has 120 study centres across Nigeria with only eight in the Southeast region, and appealed to the governor to secure land for the establishment of a study centre in Aba, to enable more Abians enjoy the gains of open and distant learning, in addition to fixing and upgrading the existing Umuahia study centre.
Meanwhile, Otti has given approval for the conduct of an immediate feasibility study on the proposed Azumini – Obeaku – Sea Port and Inland Waterways Corridor project in Abia State.
Governor Otti granted the approval during a meeting with a team from the China Harbour Engineering Company Limited led by Nicolas Liu, in his office.
Otti authorised the company to carry out the feasibility study within the shortest possible time, rather than its proposed six months period.
“So, I think you can take it that approval has been given for the feasibility study to commence. But then, you still need to come back, how do you say, six to seven months? That’s a long time. And if we can shorten it, that will help.”
Otti promised the Chinese team that while the feasibility study is on, the state government will start the process of getting the approval of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Ministry of Blue Economy and then, the President.
“So, I think we need to start the process immediately. Hoping that the feasibility study will return positive. Because you may also conduct the feasibility study and say that it is not viable.”
The governor advised the officials of the company to visit the proposed site even before the commencement of the feasibility study.
“Of course, I do know that where we are talking about is about 19 nautical miles from the High Sea. That’s the impression I got. Maybe, when you visit, you can come up with the specifics. So, if it is about 19 nautical miles, the question of viability will now come to play. Because what it requires now will be dredging.”
Otti, while thanking the team for the visit, expressed the hope that the project, if well followed, would be achieved.
Earlier, the leader of the team, Mr. Nicolas Li, said the China Harbour Engineering Company Limited is seeking to partner with the Abia State government to realise the proposed sea port project.
Mr Liu, who noted that they have deep understanding of the Nigerian infrastructural projects, having worked on many roads and other projects in Nigeria, including the Lekki Deep Sea Port, which is their flagship project, maintained that there are four factors that make such projects workable.
He added that those factors include; government commitment, funding arrangements, PPP structure and phased development, and stressed the need for feasibility study among other things to enable the project commence.
