By HILARY AKALUGWU

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) is building a 12, 000 capacity hostel, in partnership with Viagem Properties Ltd, in order to boost accommodation for students, according to Chief Okwun Omeaku, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the university.

In a statement issued in Nsukka, on Monday, reacting to a recent social media video on the poor condition of Nkrumah Hall, one of UNN’s hostels, Omeaku said the project was ongoing, and that the first phase would be inaugurated in 2022.

According to him, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Charles Igwe, entered into an agreement with Viagem to build the hostel so as to boost the hostel capacity for students.

He said that although some of the hostels at UNN might not be up to standard, due to age, they were not as bad as they were painted in the social media video.

“Many of them were built in the 1960s and 1970s and had suffered lag in maintenance,” he said.

The PRO, however, said that the Igwe-led administration had been making concrete efforts to provide students with decent accommodation.

“Okpara, Okeke and other hostels have been renovated; while Mbanefo, the largest male hostel, is currently undergoing renovation,” he said.

Similarly, he added that the university was on the verge of finalising an agreement for the reconstruction of Zik’s Flats, which will add another 6,000 bed spaces.

“We urge our students and parents to exercise patience with the university as the problem of hostel accommodation will soon be a thing of the past.

“The present university management is committed to addressing all age-long hostel challenges in UNN,” Omeaku said.

He, however, solicited the assistance of alumni, parents, organisations and good-spirited Nigerians to partner with UNN, to fast track the renovation of the remaining hostels. (NAN)

Update news