In 2019, I inherited 104 unfinished projects – UNN VC

NSUKKA (Sundiata Scholar) – Professor Charles Igwe, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), claims that upon taking office in 2019, his administration inherited 104 unfinished projects.

Igwe revealed this to reporters in Nsukka on Wednesday, not long after seeing some of the initiatives carried out under his leadership.

According to him, of the 104 unfinished projects, 73 had already been finished, and the other 31 would be finished by the time he leaves office on June 14, 2024

“Those abandoned projects include projects from TETFUND interventions, Needs Assessments, Capital allocations, and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

“The good news is that my administration has completed 73 of the inherited projects while the remaining 31 are ongoing.

“I decided to complete inherited abandoned projects because I believed that government is a continuity.

“Some of the completed projects include the renovation of staff quarters; the Cultural Centre, building for Institute of African Studies; building for Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.

“Blocks A, B and C at Ituku-Ozalla; construction and equipment of the Central Laboratory at Nsukka campus as well as completion of Department of Archaeology building at Nsukka Campus; rehabilitation of the Old Library Building at Nsukka campus, among others,” he said.

The vice-chancellor continued, saying that of the 257 projects his government started, 149 had been finished and the remaining 108 were in varying states of completion.

He gave a list of some of the initiatives and tasks his administration had taken on, such as the completion and furnishing of the Medical Centre building at the Nsukka campus and the re-roofing of the Faculty of Art buildings, Blocks A and B.

The College of Postgraduates building restoration, the Centre of Entrepreneurship Development and Research (CEDR) building remodelling, and the Enugu Campus hostel renovations are a few more.

“I expect that all projects initiated by my administration will be completed before the end of my tenure, as most of them are already 90 per cent completed,” he said.

According to the VC, my administration has converted a total of 259 staff from one cadre to another, over 170 non-teaching staff who upgraded their qualifications have been converted to academic staff.

“Over 170 non-teaching staff who upgraded their qualifications are converted to academic staff, while 89 staff, who are stagnated for years in a particular cadre, promoted to match their qualifications and experiences.

“My administration has also promoted a total of 197 deserving academic staffs to the position of professorship,” he said.

Igwe also disclosed that UNN presently building 12,000 hostel bed space under the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) which he said would provide conducive and affordable hostel accommodation for students when completed.

“The transparent policy of my administration has renewed the confidence as our alumni, individuals and groups, have donated buildings, and equipment and instituted scholarships for our students.

“Our achievements go beyond physical infrastructure to include the encouragement of our staff to conduct impact-based research, that is why we challenge our staff to tailor their researches towards solving societal problems,” he said.

According to the VC, the university’s record of accomplishments can be attributed to its careful use of its resources and the friendly relationships it has maintained among its administration, faculty, and students.

Igwe clarified, however, that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)’s eight-month nationwide strike in 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in 2021, and inadequate finance remained the administration’s key obstacles.