Inyali Peter|2 August 2016
The Cross River University of Technology, CRUTECH has set up strategy aimed at coming top in the next ranking of the National Universities Commission, NUC.
Its alumni president, Eyam Abeng said that the association is currently in consultation with stakeholders in the education sector in and outside the country to make the dream a reality in a couple of years.
Eyam, who stated this at the launch of the maiden alumni building, however added that the project is one of those steps taken to improve the standard of learning in the institution.
He boasted that graduates of CRUTECH, if given the opportunity could match with their counterparts in all disciplines around the world.
He explained that the bill of quantity for the alumni complex is valued at four hundred million naira (N400, 000 000).
He noted that the state-of-the-art centre will comprise a 500 seater capacity auditorium, ICT centre of 50 Computer systems, guest house, indoor sport facilities among others.
"The establishment of the alumni centre represents a vital part of the national executive council christened "the consolidation team" commitment to providing a platform for members and our future alumni".
"I believe this alumni center will assist our alma mater become one of the very best universities in Nigeria in terms of research, technology transfer and 'technoppreneurship', he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, former Senate leader of federal Republic of Nigeria, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) who has recently been nominated as board chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) has vowed to use his appointment to promote youth education, graduate enterprise amongst others.
He made this vow through Chief Ernest Irek who represented him at the N400m fundraising event.
The former Senate leader who donated N1M and a pledge of another N2M once the construction begins to help realise the dream of the old students, said immediately his appointment has been ratified he would invest his time and resources as always to bring to fruition the Alumni dream and similar ones in the country.
Irek quoted Ndoma-Egba as having said: "As I have always done, I shall use my new position of chairman of NNDC to advance and emphasise importance of education of Nigerian children by investing in infrastructure such as the Alumni centre proposed by CRUTECH Alumni and future of graduates of all levels."
"Young Nigerians must be helped to have sound and quality education to take over from us", he said.
Also, the Chief launcher, APC governorship candidate during the last election in Cross River State, Mr. Odey Ochicha who donated N5 Million to support the project equally emphasised much on importance of education and need for the state and well-to-do to invest in it.
Ochicha stressed that there was the need to revive the education system of the country for advancement even as he advised the policy makers to pay more attention in the education of the youth as they are the future leaders.
According to him, "Not many products of Nigerian Universities love going back to give back to their alma mater. For this reason, we should encourage CRUTECH alumni. We must invest in education", he said.
About N12 Million was raised during the launching.
Inyali Peter
Writes from Calabar
