By IJENDU IHEAKA

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), says it has committed remarkable resources to secure modem security gadgets to tame rising spate of theft and cultism in the institution.

The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ursula Akanwa, disclosed this in her office while briefing newsmen on the achievements during her first 100 days in office.

She said: “Some modern response gadgets were procured for proper coordination; the goal was to nip at the bud the incessant burglary of university property which was common in the past.

“It was bad, you keep something you will not see it; in one day, 20 laptops were missing, 20 air-conditioners went missing”.

She, however, disclosed that with the current security arrangement, those who burgled one of the college offices were caught, adding that burglary rate on campus had tremendously reduced.

She also noted that investments in the security unit had begun yielding fruits as some thieves and cultists who infiltrated the campus recently were arrested and undergoing prosecution.

Akanwa, who is the first female VC of the institution, promised that her administration would do things differently to ensure the return of utmost safety and serenity to the university community during her tenure.

She said that the welfare of staff and students remained her priority hence she had begun the promotion of the academic and non-academic staff.

The VC said she had allocated and approved space for the construction of a students Relaxation Centre to reduce their academic pressures.

According to Akanwa, her administration has separated the Procurement Unit from the Directorate of Physical Planning, which is a practical approach to institutional reform in procurement policy.

Akanwa said efforts were ongoing to return MOUAU to national and international ranking and presence through organising workshops with Times Higher Education to aid ranking.

She said efforts were also being made to merge multiple accounts of the institution’s academic staff to enhance recognition and visibility.

She said the institution formed forums for patenting discoveries and for preparing quality academic manuscripts for high impact journal publications to improve its visibility.

Akanwa, who is also the seventh VC of the institution said that she had stopped extortion of money from final year students of the university by departmental officers for reconciliation of results which was rampant before her tenure.

She said her administration was prioritising research and development through providing supporting for college and interdisciplinary research projects.

According to her, one of such activities resulting in a collaboration with a private organisation will increase maggot production, which will boost fish farming in the institution.

She said the World Bank through its Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) had begun building a N370 million Animal Feed Reference Laboratory for the university.

“The project will be completed in six months from June and will help improve livestock production and address agricultural value chain challenges,” Akanwa said.

The VC said she restored the University Radio Station, AGRI-VOICE 106.9 FM operations to reach youths and women on improved farming programmes that would change their lives. (NAN)

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