Keep off UNIZIK or face the wrath of law, Ag. VC warns hooligans

 

By Okechukwu Onuegbu

The Acting Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Professor Carol Arinze-Umeobi, Monday, warned hooligans to keep off the institution or face the full the wrath of law.

Arinze-Umeobi disclosed this in an interview after commissioning over ten projects recently executed by her administration across their three campuses. Among them were refurbished security outfit, two modern dialysis machines installed in the dialysis and renal therapy unit and digital x-ray unit of the university medical centre, UNIZIK microfinance bank, buses for free transportation of staff and waste bins for the 17 Faculties including Admin block, in Awka permanent site.

Others were renovated and equipped students hostel at Agulu campus where students were equally provided with sanitary detergents, as well as kitchen and toilets, borehole, overhead tank for 6000 gallons and solar powered street lights Mbaukwu campus.

According to her, with the improved security, the university was positioned to detect, arrest and persecute those usually engaging in thefts and other crimes in the institution.

She recalled how their perimeter fencing and other properties were vandalised or tampered with in the past by hooligans, noting that some who recently attempted similar acts were captured.

On the newly launched dialysis machines, Arinze-Umeobi, said the students patients would receive the services for free, while the staff wishing to access it would be charged a sum of N10,000 and outsiders would pay N12,500 only as against about N60,000 been charged by private hospitals or N15,000 approved by the federal government.

The Acting Vice Chancellor said that the newly refurbished digital x-ray unit would offer more accurate services at affordable rates to the university community, while the renovated and improved admin blocks, hostels and kitchens and others at Agulu and Mbaukwu would provide conducive environment for effective teaching and learning.

According to her, the university had converted their newly refurbished buses for free transportation scheme for the staff to enable them argument their salaries and properly fend for themselves and families amidst the economic crunch, just as the students would no longer spend heavily on health.

Arinze-Umeobi, while noting that plans were on to establish a department of Unizik welfare, described the projects as remarkable, noting that they would be sustained through the microfinance bank, Unizik business ventures, among other mechanisms to be adopted soonest.

The Acting Vice Chancellor said she was compelled to tackle these to improve the lives of people in the university community having witnessed her beloved died of inefficient dialysis, as well as seen the horrible conditions of students hostels, including what the staff pass through to sustain themselves with meagre resources.

"They are not the only projects I executed by my administration. I have commissioned many of them but these ones were reserved towards the end of my tenure. I will monitor these projects even after my tenure as Acting Vice Chancellor.

" The SUG and NANS should help us in sensitising students on optimum use of the facilities meant for them. To the staff, I want you to know that your voices will always be heard when you do it properly. You know the right channels to follow.

"I'm not saying you should protest or murmur. Ask properly and your wishes will definitely be granted. Unizik is a blessed University. I pray you to allow the Unizik to remain bless. For those engaging in holiganism, I pray you to leave unizik immediately. Our security is now tight. We have already caught some persons. If you engage in theft or vandalise our property, you will face the wrath of law," she stated.