The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, Rt. Hon. Agwu U. Agwu, has commended Governor Alex Otti for the ongoing renovation of students’ hostels in the university, describing the project as a life-changing intervention that will positively affect the students spiritually, physically, and academically.
Speaking during an inspection tour of one of the completed hostels, Rt. Hon. Agwu, who was accompanied by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ndukwe James Okeudo, and other members of the university management, expressed delight at the transformation of the facilities. He thanked God for using Governor Otti to make the project a reality, stressing that the provision of light, water, and other essential amenities in the hostels was a clear indication of the Governor’s genuine commitment to the welfare of ABSU students and the promotion of quality education in the state.
The Pro-Chancellor urged students who will occupy the renovated hostels to support the present administration and remain focused on their studies, assuring them that the government’s intervention in ABSU was just the beginning of greater things to come.
“I think this is just the beginning,” he said. “The students should keep faith with the government of the day, support the government, read their books, and be peaceful. More and more good things are on the way. To the managers of this hostel, if they could maintain the old hostels the way they did in the past, I am confident they will do their utmost best to ensure that in the next 20 years, this hostel will still remain in good condition.”
On his part, the Vice Chancellor of ABSU, Professor Ndukwe James Okeudo, also expressed profound appreciation to Governor Otti for what he described as a “total renovation” of the hostels. He noted that the management did not expect the standard that was delivered, adding that the gesture has exceeded their expectations.
“The Governor has given the hostels a first touch, and it is a complete transformation. We sincerely thank him and pray that God blesses him with more resources to complete other projects already awarded in the university,” Professor Okeudo said. He also appreciated the contractor handling the project for the quality of work delivered, noting that students would certainly value the new environment.
The contractor, Mr. Victor Ochie, Chairman of Davnotch Nigeria Limited, while addressing journalists, gave kudos to Governor Otti, recalling how the Governor was visibly moved when he visited the hostels earlier in the year and saw the deplorable conditions under which students lived.
“Seeing the state of the hostels, the Governor immediately told the students that work would begin the following week, and he kept his word. Today, the result speaks for itself. The difference between what was here before and what we have now is like night and day,” Ochie said.
He assured that the renovated hostels now reflect the true essence of a university environment, with facilities that will shape students’ experiences both academically and socially.
“Education is about passing through the university and allowing the university to pass through you. That is the whole essence. What has been done here brings back the standard of what a citadel of higher learning should be. From common rooms where students can gather, to on-site conveniences like water, lighting, and shops, everything has been restored to global standards,” he explained.
Ochie further revealed that the government had mandated his company to renovate other hostels, including Hostel ABC, to the same standard, adding that logistics and the challenge of relocating students temporarily were the only reasons the projects were being phased.
One of the students, Miss Gift Onyinyechi Nwaokorie, a 400-level Mass Communication undergraduate, could not hide her excitement over the transformation. She explained that the previous state of the hostels had been terrible, with poor amenities forcing students to go outside the school environment to meet basic needs.
“With these new hostels, we now have constant light, water, reading tables, and chairs. We no longer need to worry about going outside for night classes or fetching water. This will really encourage us to study harder,” she said.
Miss Nwaokorie thanked Governor Otti for the timely intervention and urged him to sustain the momentum by extending the development drive to other parts of the university.
Stakeholders believe that the hostel renovation project is a significant milestone in Governor Otti’s ongoing efforts to reposition ABSU and restore its pride as one of the leading institutions in Nigeria.
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