Dilapilated structures, abandoned projects litter UNN

NSUKKA—Nigeria’s first indigenous university, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, known for academic excellence is said to be facing hard times due to several years of maladministration by past administrators.

 a result of this development, the university is said to be lagging behind other first generation universities in terms of academic and other recreational facilities.

For example, the games village used for the NUGA games which the institution hosted in 2008, had been taken over by rodents just as it had become a free toilet zone for students and other passers-by.

A visit by the South East Voice to the games village located at the main campus of the institution showed that the place has turned into a mockery.

The 2008 edition of the NUGA Games hosted under Prof. Chinedu Nebo as vice chancellor, now minister for power, attracted companies, corporate bodies and individuals which mobilised enough funds for the project. Nebo had appointed his successor, Prof. Bartho Okolo, chairman of the NUGA games.

The Akanu Ibiam Stadium at the university was to be constructed to a full stadium with tartam track, but abandoned half way which now serves as lecture hall for students of the university.

Ifeanyi Ubah’s multi million Naira ICT data centre at the university was also abandoned during the five years Prof. Okolo served as vice chancellor of the university just as the student’s music performing centre had become the venue for nocturnal meetings by the bad eggs on campus.

Walking round the games villages portends danger mostly at night as female students could be gang raped, harassed and intimidated without being rescued. The cricket pitch earlier planned for synthetic grass has been overtaken by grass and now serve as evening football pitch for students on exercise.

Worst among the facilities abandoned in the university is the swimming pool built to Olympic standard during the NUGA games but now a ghost land in the university.

Costain Construction Company that handled most of the projects allegedly left in anger three months after the NUGA games when the then LOC Chairman, Prof. Okolo became the vice chancellor and could not complete the projects he started as Mr. 2008 NUGA of the university.

The only project that was completed remained the squash pavilion, built by the Dangote Group of companies. The project stands out as the best and only one completed at the games village.

Globacom Telecommunications which sponsored the constrution of the stadium allegedly had some misunderstanding with the LOC committee on where to channel the funds for the stadium project as the company maintained that it would directly mobilize the contractors to site while the LOC insisted that such funds should be channelled through it. As it dragged on, the university sealed Globacom premises at the gate of the university which housed Conoil petroleum, Glo shop and Equatorial Trust Bank (now acquired) allegedly compelling the company to pay the N150 million contract sum in full before Globacom was allowed to operate even as the stadium had still remained uncompleted till date.

Some time ago, South East Voicegathered that one Ozoemena, a final year student on double scholarship hanged himself inside the abandoned hockey pitch in the games village as the pitch had become a place of immorality, among other social vices. The abandoned tennis court had also been taken over by reptiles.

Efforts to get the authorities of the UNN comment on the abandoned projects were unsuccessful but the incumbent Vice Chancellor, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba had promised to redeem the battered image of the UNN as well as reposition the games village as part of his efforts to restore the dignity of man in line with the motto of the institution.

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