Unical Postgraduate SUG Seeks MOW&I Partnership To Boost Infrastructure On Campus
By Our Reporter
The Postgraduate Student Union Government of the University of Calabar has sought the collaboration of Cross River State Ministry of Works and infrastructure in its zeal to develop a lecture theatre with the view to addressing infrastructure challenge in the University.
This was made known during a courtesy call on the Commissioner for Works and infrastructure, Hon Pius Ankpo, by the students body of the University recently in his office in Calabar.
Speaking, the Post Graduate Student Union Government (PGSUG) President, Comrade Benard Edet said the visit was in line with the union's quest to bridge the infrastructure gap in the university community by contributing it quota to the school.
He stated that the school was lacking lecture theatres, a situation, he said, was unhealthy for a university of such standing and especially Post Graduate Students of the university.
Sharing his Union's experience, the President hinted: "We have had a situation where a lecture was scheduled to take place in a particular venue, on reaching there, it was already occupied by undergraduates students. In such situations, what do we do than reschedule our lecture? Hence the academic community's dare need of lecture halls for Post Graduate Students."
Congratulating the Commissioner on his elevation, Comrade Edet said the essence of the visit was to seek partnership with the State Government to see to the development of lecture infrastructure so as to ease the Post Graduate Students of the burden of moving around for lectures.
Edet noted that his administration has a plan to build and donate a Lecture Hall to the school, adding that this has also necessitated the visit so as to mobilize materials and finances for the development.
He called on the State Government to come to their aid by ensuring that the burden is taken off the school, stating that by so doing, Governor Bassey Otu will have his name engraved in the sand of time.
Responding, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Pius Ankpo expressed gratitude to the student body for identifying with him, inferring that it was a great and rare privilege.
He charged them to used the platform to contribute positively in character moulding and reorientation of the students to continue striving for the best, adding that success comes when opportunity meets preparation.
Hon. Ankpo restated government's commitment to repositioning the State through infrastructural development and promised to relate their message of solidarity to the Governor while expressing faith in the Otu-led administration to attend to their issues of concern.
He advised the students to as a matter of importance create an additional learning within the academic environment by ensuring that the design and development of the project is done internally in order to serve as a theatre for practice.
"We have students in Architecture, Civil Engineering and others. I want you to create learning in an academic environment by engaging them in any areas of needs. By so doing, it will give them ample opportunity to practice what they are studying," he concluded.
