At the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo in Ebonyi State, Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Works and Housing, officially opened a 0.6-kilometer-long road that had been rebuilt.
Fashola called the road “an important asset of the ministry reconstructed on behalf of the Federal Government.” He was represented at the inauguration by the Federal Controller of Works in the state, Mr. Steve Oluwadun.
The minister claimed that because the institution’s damaged roads have been repaired, students are already showing signs of renewed enthusiasm for attending classes.
He stated: “This is consistent with our progressive ideal of improving the human condition. This process continues presently with the handing over of this road at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University as a critical intervention to support education. We must make the point that although this is a civil work project, it is an investment in education.
“During the reconstruction of the road, over 25 people were employed in the process contributing to the job creation initiatives of the federal government. We hope that the school would ensure that this asset is used properly and not abused.”
He stated that through a methodical process of repairs, renewal, and construction on highways and schools, the FG was gradually closing the gap in the nation’s infrastructure needs.
“It is undebatable that the quality of education would be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and learning environment. We have intervened in 64 internal road projects in various federal tertiary institutions and handed over 46 of such as at March 2022.
“We have another 18 roads ready to be handed over while 19 are currently being attended to in similar institutions across the country, totalling 83,” he stated.
The university’s vice chancellor, prof. Sunday Elom, called the occasion historic and expressed the gratitude of the school to the federal government.
Elom claimed that the road was strategically placed for convenient vehicular and predetermined movement to its College of Medical Sciences and Faculty of Law through the persona of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Abel Ezeoha.
“The road, before this intervention, was practically impassable because of the quantum of dust and mud on it during the dry season. We sincerely hope that the entire stretch of the road would be completed in future,” he said.
A student at the institution, Abigail Ijeh, thanked the FG for the project and noted that it will help students meet their academic obligations.
