Former governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, has said the number of universities and tertiary institutions in Nigeria cannot be too many, considering the population of youths in the country.
He made the remark in his home at Amechi, in Enugu South Local Government of Enugu State, where the national leadership of the Federal Polytechnic Oko Alumni Association, presented him with the Founders Award.
The elder statesman, responding to questions from reporters on the quality of tertiary institutions springing up across the country, said the number of universities in the country was not yet commensurate with the population of the country and the demand gap.
He said: “Universities can never be too many in the country, considering the population. So, we need more universities or tertiary institutions, considering the number of applicants and those admitted. The demand gap is too wide.
“As you already know, each year, close to two million candidates apply for admission into Nigerian universities, but less than half of that number gain admission into tertiary institutions.
“To me, this a far cry and something that worries parents and families of candidates and the candidates themselves.”
Nwobodo, therefore, called on the authorities to ensure any institution given licence to operate must guarantee quality education because, to him, whether government or private school, the products remain Nigerians.
On the Founders Award given to him, he expressed happiness that he was able to elevate the college to a diploma awarding institution after it was established by Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former vice-president, saying the institution later metamorphosed into the current Federal Polytechnic Oko, which had trained thousands of persons in disciplines.
Nwobodo, who was a teacher at the prestigious King’s College, Lagos, before becoming governor, recalled that he also established five other tertiary institutions, including a multi-campus university, because of his belief that education was key to the development of Eastern Nigeria then.
“My joy is that that mustard seed planted by Alex Ekwueme, has grown to become a place where several courses are being taught,” he said.
Presenting the award, the National President of the Federal Polytechnic Oko Alumni Association, Nze Henry Chukwukadibia, said the award was given to Senator Nwobodo for his outstanding leadership, commitment to service and passion for education, which he exhibited as the governor of old Anambra State by establishing schools and institutions of higher learning, most especially College of Arts, Science and Technology, Oko, which has metamorphosed to Federal Polytechnic Oko.
“We salute your education excellence built with the quality ofyour actions and the integrity of your intent, which has made our alma mater to become the Polytechnic of the Moment in Nigeria,” he said.
He said besides Nwobodo, other founding fathers were Alex Ekwueme, the initiator, former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, who made it a federal polytechnic and Mr. Ndu, the first principal of the institution, when it was College of Arts and Science.
