The National University Commission (NUC) has presented the Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, Ogboko, operational certificate to the Imo State Government.
The handover was made by the NUC Executive Secretary, Professor Abubakar Adamu, at a short event held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The transfer ends the dispute over ownership of the university between former Governor Rochas Okorocha and the Imo state government.
The current state governor, Hope Uzodinma, had taken over the university, formerly known as Eastern Palm University, Ogboko, from Okorocha and renamed it Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwae University, Ogboko, Imo State.
With the handover, the NUC has recognized and approved the operational license of Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe Ogboko University, Imo State, as the 42nd State University of Nigeria.
Presenting the certificate, Professor Abubarkar Adamu Rasheed, Executive Secretary of the Commission, congratulated Governor Uzodimma and assured him that the commission is ready to assist the state in its academic progress.
The Executive Secretary congratulated the Governor of for his vision of expanding access to university education in the state of Imo and, by extension, in the southwestern region of the country.
Rasheed noted that the commission will continue to work with the state to ensure universities take their place among other universities.
“Through a copy of this letter, the Joint Admission and Enrollment Board (JAMB), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the National Youth Services Corps (NYSC) are being notified of this development.
Upon receiving the Letter of Recognition, the Governor congratulated the NUC for ensuring stability in the country’s university system.
He said the determination to establish a state university was based on the level of unease of youth in the Southeast.
Imo state is very populated, we have a population of over five million and our young population is very large and it is also part of what has led to unrest in the southeast.
The Governor said: “Today is a very special day for me, we have come here today to receive the letter of appreciation from NUC for our new KO Mbadiwe University.
“This university which is wholly owned by the Imo State Government has also given us the opportunity to immortalize one of our most prominent philanthropists, KO Mbadiwe of blessed memory.