Chidiebele Obika | I-Witness News
The Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Charles Okechukwu Esimone, FAS yesterday, May 28, 2024 at the old Faculty building of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka inauguated the temporary office housing the Prof. Ngozi Egbuna International Centre For Regional Integration And Trade Research.
The event which was part of valedictory activities for the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Esimone witnessed the attendance of notable academics, University Council members and personalities including; Prof. Harry Obi-Nwosu, Prof Ezimma Nnabuife, Rev Fr Prof. Bonachritus Umeogu, Prof Nkechi Nwokoye, Director Linkages And Collaborations, Prof. Uche Nwaogwugwu, Dean FSS, Prof. Frank Collins Okafor, Director of the Centre, Prof. Ngozi Egbuna, Deputy Director of the Centre, Dr Uche Ekwugha, HOD of Political Science Department, Prof Okafor. Prof. Jaja Nwanegbo, Dr Chris Kalu, Prof Cornelius Ukwueze, Prof. Uche Ebeze, Former HOD, Mass Comm., Ify Obi, UNIZIK FM station manager, Prof Meshach Umenweke, Dr Uche Ngenegbo, Director, Unizik Business Ventures, Dr Ekene Okafor among Others
Speaking, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Esimone appreciated the Director of the centre, Prof. Ngozi Eunice Egbuna for her efforts at making sure that the centre takes off and commences academic activities. He went down memory lane on how the centre was conceived stating that it was born out of ‘innocuous’ circumstances in the bid to attract the CBN and Afriexim Bank to invest in the school. “Any leader that doesn’t have followers is not a leader. Thank you all for giving me the necessary support”, Esimone said.
He promised to help the Centre attract grants from the Afriexim Bank, provide office gadgets and personal for the immediate take off of the centre’s classes.
The Director, Linkages and International Collaborations, Prof Uche Collins Nwaogwugwu while speaking noted that It was his pleasure to speak on the occasion and welcome everyone especially the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Charles Esimone FAS.
Said he, ” Rulers are born and from a distance you can notice one. Talking about project 200. This is one of the signs and it’s part of statements I made to Prof Oramah of Afriexim bank, Cairo, Egypt. Prof Ngozi Egbuna left her office as DG of CBN in Ghana to do this for us. Prof. Esimone, I want to thank you for giving me a role to play in all these. We are bringing three centres: Centre for social policy, Prof. Ngozi Eunice Egbuna International Centre for Regional Integration And Trade Research and Centre for Portuguese and Brazilian Culture”.
Continuing, he said, ” You allocated a land to us behind the Zik centre. I’m appealing to my VC to talk to his friend in Cairo to bring money so that we open that place.
Prof Nwaogwugwu called on the VC to help the centres to grow and promised to always mention him whenever they are talking about the centers.
On her part, the benefactor and Director of the International Centre For Regional Integration And Trade Research (ICRITR), Prof. Ngozi Eunice Egbuna took out time to appreciate and commend the VC UNIZIK, Prof Charles Esimone whom he described as “amiable and action VC”.
” This centre was established exactly one year ago this month. Our VC is so humble. I forwarded my CV on Jan 26, 2023 and four days later, Prof Nwaogwugwu called me. On 4th of April, I received my appointment as Visiting Professor. This is how this project started. We are eternally grateful to you Sir. We are thanking you for everything. Kings, Presidents and world leaders will announce you. You came, you saw and you conquered. .”
” This centre will offer courses in Masters Degree, Diploma and short courses. And we request for office furniture you approved which have not been given, lecture classes, technology (hybrid lectures) and push to Afriexim bank to fulfil their promise. We need admin staff and secretary for the full commencement of the centre.”
” Soon, we shall be starting Projects like opening of portal for application for students in the next two weeks, technical and technological support, development of curriculum to address vocational training and SMEs”, she said.
She appreciated People like Prof. Uche Nwaogwugwu, her Deputy Director, Dr Uche Ekwugha, Dr Chris Kalu for all their efforts at ensuring that the centre succeeds. She called on all hands to be on deck as the centre gears up for full commencement of lectures.
The Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Frank Collins Okafor aligned his speech with that of his predecessor, Prof Nwaogwugwu.
He thanked Prof Esimone for being too good to FSS. According to him, FSS midwifed the establishment of Ngozi Egbuna Centre.
Prof Okafor said,” We will always remember you. We pray God to bless you with more exalted positions so that you continue to remember us here in the FSS. You gifted us the new FSS faculty building. We are still calling for more. We all want this centre to succeed. The director is resourceful and our DD, Dr Uche Ekwugha is the one who has been running around for everything here. I thank you all”.
Highpoints of the occasion were the official ribbons cutting, presentation of gift by the Director to the VC, group photographs and light refreshments.
