By PAMELA EBOH Awka

The Director General of South-East Governors’ Forum, Senator Uche Ekwunife, has urged Nigerians to stop cursing their country and leaders, but rather remain prayerful and confess positively.

Ekwunife gave the advice during the commissioning of a skill acquisition and training centre she built at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra, State over the weekend, expressed optimism that Nigeria will be great again.

While harping on the power of positive thinking, the immediate past senator for Anambra Central Senatorial District explained that her decision to build the biggest skill acquisition centre in Unizik was informed by her desire to build human resources.

She said: “The Bible says catch them young for Christ. When God gives you opportunity to serve just remember there is God.”

“The centre contains nine training offices, big conference halls amongst others. Training would be in tailoring, baking, etc.”

While urging the university management to safeguard the place, like any other government structure should be safeguarded, Ekwunife stressed that security should be everybody’s business.

She added: “Security is everybody’s business. The VC can’t be working to attract development here only for such things to be vandalized.

“Let’s stop cursing our country. Pray for the leaders. A lot of good things are being put in place to better Nigeria. Nigeria is working. Let’s pray for our President, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the wife, our Vice President and our leaders. Let’s stop cursing our country and leaders. When our parents are not doing it well, do we curse our parents?

“I commend the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Charles Esimone, for his selfless service and urge public office holders to always be conscious of life after leaving office.

“I am always proud of you, VC. What is happening here today is a testimony of your selfless service to this great institution. You did well and that is why we are saying that anytime you get opportunity to serve the people, serve them well because you don’t know when such opportunity will come again”

“You started strongly and you are ending strong. During your five years as VC, there were no riots and bad events in the school and that shows you served very well."

Addressing the university community, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Unizik, Prof Joseph Ikechebelu, said that the institution took a quantum leap from being 4,497 to 1,500 place in the recent ranking.

According to him, the ranking went through thorough global assessment of all the Universities in the world, noting that the administration of the outgoing Vice Chancellor made it possible.

He said: “From the recent ranking, it shows that something impactful is happening in Unizik for the university to take a leap from 4,497 to 1,500 spot at the world university ranking that followed all global assessment.”

Earlier in his speech, the outgoing VC hailed Ekwunife for all she had done for the university and Anambra Central Senatorial District when she was in the Senate.

He described her as a great woman of substance and a sister.

•PHOTO: Sen. Ekwunife and other dignitaries at the commissioning of a skill acquisition and training centre she built at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State . . . weekend

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