Establishment Of UNICROSS Visionary, Yielding Incredible Results - C'River Speaker
... Assures Of Legislature's Support To Improve Varsity
By Ogbu KOSY
The Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem has hailed the establishment of the State-owned University of Cross River State, UNICROSS, (formerly Cross River University of Technology, CRUTECH) by the then governor Donald Duke as a visionary investment that has continued to yield incredible results in the education of the youths of the State, nay Nigeria.
Ayambem, who made the adulation while speaking to the leadership and stakeholders of UNICROSS Alumni Association who were in his office on a courtesy visit, recently, said "it takes an innovative mind to align with the formation of UNICROSS, which he insisted, has impacted highly on the people's quest for higher learning.
The Speaker expressed excitement at the quality and amazing number of the University's graduates blazing the trail in different fields of human endeavour both within and outside the country, assuring that the 10th Legislative Assembly under his leadership will not rest on its oars to improve the standard of the State-owned institution.
The Ikom II representative also assured the Alumni body of revisiting the Act that birthed the University with a view to, in collaboration with the executive arm, make upward review of subvention to UNICROSS, enforce and increase remittances to enable the varsity's smooth running, as well as proffer solutions to other challenges bothering the school.
Emphasising the need for periodic interface with the Alumni Association, the Speaker reiterated his open door policy, with a call on the group no to hesitate to knock should they want his attention.
Earlier in his remarks, the President of the Alumni Association, Comrade Eyam Abeng said the essence of the visit was to identify with the Speaker and thank him for his people-centric disposition, proactive beginning of the 10th Assembly, as well as draw his attention to some challenges facing their alma mater.
Abeng also thanked the Speaker for his receptiveness and allowing his team unfettered access to him and the Assembly, describing him as a critical stakeholder in the continuous improvement of UNICROSS.
The Alumni leader who illuminated the meteoric rise of the University since its creation, currently seating as the seventh best in the country, however, mentioned that poor subvention and paltry remittances have remained stumbling blocks to the smooth running of the school.
The Alumni President pleaded with the Speaker to intervene by legislating on possible ways to improve the lots of the University, as well as increase the Association's representation in the governing council of the institution, adding that by attending to those pleas, UNICROSS and its Alumni will be better equipped to serve the University community and state at large.
The Abeng-led delegation also beckoned on the Speaker to consider graduates of UNICROSS for appointments and employment into the service of the state and Nigeria.
Highpoints of the visit was a group photograph of the Speaker with the leadership and stakeholders of the Alumni Association.
