Education Commissioner Assures UNICROSS Alumni Of Gov't Support
By Ogbu KOSY
The Commissioner for Education Senator Stephen Odey has assured the National Executive Council of the University of Cross State (UNICROSS) Alumni Association of the present administration's support to the body and its alma mater.
The Commissioner, who gave the assurance while receiving the Alumni delegation in his office, today, said their visit was timely as the State is already on a course to reform the educational sector.
Odey said, as an advocate of quality education as center for excellence, he was delighted to see a delegation of committed personalities of Cross River decent who are giving back to the society through their Alumni Association.
Senator Odey described Education is a potent weapon for the development of society, reason why he concentrated heavily in educational development during his tenure as the State Universal Basic Education Board Chairman.
On State Subvention to the University, Senator Odey Said, "I believe that by the time we put our heads together the education sector would be upgraded, with University of Cross as the Center of Intervention. My first assignment as commissioner was an appeal to Governor Bassey Edet Otu to increase the Subvention to UNICROSS."
Odey promised to liaise with his counterpart in Ministry of Local Government Affairs to address the Alumni's request to increase the Local Government contribution to University from one to three percent.
On the issues of encroachment, the Commissioner also promised to liaise with Commissioner for Lands to nib the ugly trend in the butt, assuring that "we will use the law to rid interlopers off the University land.
Odey revealed the Ministry's plans to host an education summit where stakeholders in the sector would converge to brainstorm towards a policy direction for the education sector of State.
Earlier, the National President, Comrade Eyam Abeng, who congratulated Odey on his appointment, said the essence of the visit was to solicit his support for Government intervention on issues bothering the institution.
He appealed for the upward review of State Government Subvention to University, which he stressed, has become necessary, especially given the National University Commission's approval to UNICROSS for additional 17 courses.
Abeng, also appealed for a 3% increase from the 1% donated by the Local Government Areas to the university.
He advocated for the use of local content by considering UNICROSS Alumni in the execution of projects in the State.
He also sought for the provision of operational vehicles for the university to ease the day-to-day running of the School, as well as intervention to provide parameter fencing for the institution.
He called for effective utilization of the obubra campus, which he described as presently being under-utilised.
Also speaking, Dr. Mboto Mboto, emphasised the downward trajectory of Obubra campus, which boast of over 100 Professors.
He advocated for the upgrade of Obubra Campus to a Federal College of Agriculture to effectively utilized its human resources and amass federal government funding.
Dr. Mboto posited that as the only APC State in the Southern region, President Bola Tinubu would welcome calls for the establishment of the College of Agriculture to boost human resources and engender economic development for the State.
