By Chuks Ehirim
University of Nigeria Nsukka, Vice Chancellor, Prof Bartho Okolo, has stressed that the need to keep alive the legacy of the founding fathers of the ivory tower engendered his administration to embark on massive infrastructure development to upgrade the institution to world standards.
Prof Okolo was speaking at the weekend in Abuja at a maiden meeting of section of the alumni, the Jacksonites or graduates of the Mass Communication from the institution resident in the FCT.
He said part of the restructuring policy of the university is massive infrastructure development and upgrading to achieve a world class citadel where teaching and learning is done in a conducive atmosphere.
According to Professor of Brewing Science, prior to his assumption of office, the university was in a state of decay but now it has been digitized to conform to information technology age.
Okolo said in the last three years, 100 first class products of the university have been hired with many of them sent overseas to embrace the best practices, noting that the University library is world class and affiliated to UNESCO and Switzerland libraries.
The Vice Chancellor stated that a teacher Partnership programme is ongoing aimed at involving corporate bodies to develop curriculum and sponsor impartation of learning in their areas of specialization.
He stated that the university has established alumni quarter to interact with its alumni across the world, stressing that with the quarter, the alumni can apply for their transcript and have them released in 48 hours.
He noted that the image of scholarship has tremendously improved as smart boards have been installed in all the classes for teaching while expatriates were engaged in relevant fields.
On previous global rankings where the name of the university has been conspicuously absent, the vice chancellor attributed the reason to the internal leadership wrangling non-existent websites for the university.
He said part of his task is to ensure that the university is accessed on the web expressing delight that a robust internet communication technology (ICT) has been installed which has placed the university among one of the best in Africa. Prof Okolo further disclosed that a centre for performing art is being established in the ivory tower to take art to greater heights while entrepreneurship programme has been ongoing over a long period of time.
He commended the Jacksonites especially Prof Charles Okigbo and the other conveners for coming together saying that apart from its mutually beneficial merits of such an association, it also keeps alive, the spirit of the institution outside the university.
