Gentlemen of the press,
Welcome to this very important press briefing.
We are gathered today to share with you an appeal we had sent to Mr President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria urging him to sign the bill seeking to establish the federal University of Technology Ogoja which is currently on his table.
We, the good people of old Ogoja, comprising middle and norther Cross River State consider it pertinent, to express our profound gratitude to God Almighty for keeping Mr. President strong and healthy to lead this country after securing another four year term of office. We very formally congratulate Mr. President and wish him well as he discharges his duties to the good of all Nigerians.
Today, we will like to use this medium to bring to notice of Mr. President the bill seeking the establishment of the Federal University of Technology, Ogoja which has been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly. This bill is indeed historical to the peace-loving people of Ogoja who are desirous of accessing quality education to drive the nation-building endeavour of the Federal Government.
It is germane to commend our illustrious son, the indefatigable Member of Parliament and Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Waterways, Honourable Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe for the magnanimous ventilation of the needs and aspirations of his Ogoja/Yala constituents. This has found expression in the sponsored Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Federal University of Technology, Ogoja and for Related Matters (HB. 1293) that has been passed by the 8th National Assembly awaiting your assent.
Mr. President Sir, it is axiomatic that “knowledge will forever govern ignorance.” The fact that you have an avalanche of requests for the establishment of tertiary institutions in the country does not only corroborate the imperativeness of the citizens’ desire for education to provide the needed manpower to fill the yawing manpower deficit, but also address other teething challenges faced by these Nigerians in their respective geographical locations.
Historically, Ogoja is a colonial creation of the peoples found in the Middle and Upper Cross River regions- from Obubra, Ikom, Obudu to Ogoja Divisions of Ogoja Province. The Ogoja Province is a pioneer province in Nigeria. Economically viable- agro-based, solid mineral deposits, and tourism. There is hydro-electric power potential at Obubu and Agbokim, and a population of about 2 million from which a dependable manpower is derived. The Province with her Calabar counterpart, comprise the present-day Cross River State. It is on record that Ogoja Province has been marginalized, oppressed, and suppressed by the majority ethnic nationalities even by her fellow Calabar Province. Thus, being the only province yet to be excised into a State, the people of the Province since the 1950s have been involved in the agitation for an Ogoja State to address the socio-economic injustices and political emasculation of the area and her people.
Mr. President Sir, the people of the northern fringes of the old Ogoja Province, presently configured into Bekwarra, Obanliku, Obudu, Ogoja, and Yala Local Government Areas have resolved that the Federal University of Technology, Ogoja be established in the Ogoja and land provided for that purpose. Therefore, the good people of Ogoja are compelled by the following realities to request for the establishment of a university of technology given the Federal Government’s well-intentioned disposition for the development of science and technology in the country.
i. Ogoja, the Headquarters of old Ogoja Province and the Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State, is the only town in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria that is over 340km away from its State capital. Thus, any student from Ogoja or any of the northern local government areas of Cross River State, desirous to access the University of Calabar, Calabar, must travel an average of 360km. The closest Federal University is located in Wukari with a distance of 192km from Ogoja. Nsukka is 256km from Ogoja, and University of Agriculture, Makurdi, 209km. It is instructive to note that the growing spate of insecurity through the routes to these university communities in Benue, Taraba, Ebonyi States threatens the actualization of accessing university education there.
ii. Ogoja was promised a university as early as 1975 and surreptitiously short-changed by the powers that be on the grounds of a minor disagreement between the host communities who have no history of belligerence for several decades to have warranted such an anti-Ogoja decision.
iii. Today, we have come of age to ask for what is rightly our own. Ogoja has been greatly marginalized in terms of Federal tertiary education. It is a legitimate demand. States with special needs are given attention and awarded another Federal University. Delta state has a Maritime University, a Petroleum Resources University and now an Admiralty University all powered by the federal government. Bornu state even with Boko Haram just got a Federal University (Nigerian Army University) Biu. Ogoja should not be an exception.
iv. Ogoja Province being the only province to realize a State while other provinces have been configured and reconfigured into States, it is evident that, if the 2014 Confab report had sailed through, that golden dream of Ogoja would have materialized. Now, in the absence of an Ogoja State, we demand a Federal University of Technology, Ogoja in a civilized way. Ogoja is the most peaceful senatorial district in Nigeria with no record violent activities since the advent of democracy in 1999.
V. Ogoja is blessed with heavy weight in the academia that are willing to relocate to give the university a smooth take off. We can boast of 12 professors in the field of science and Technology presently offering their services all across the country. We have about 23 associate professors in engineering and allied courses that are ready to come home and develop the university. We are indeed ready.
Vi It is on record that government policies are progressive in nature and in line with existing realities. In the mid 80, the government established 4 federal universities of technology located at Minna, Niger state for the North Central, Yola in Adamawa State for the North East, Akure in Ondo state for the South West and Owerri in Imo state for the South East. Today we now have six geo political zone and the south South zone that is the oil belt of Nigeria and the main resources provider does not have a federal university of technology that will supply man power for the Oil and gas industry. Therefore the call for the establishment of Federal university of Technology Ogoja is justifiable to satisfy the yearnings of the people of South South zone for equity, peace and justice.
vii. Consequent upon the above enumerated realities, our prayer to Mr. President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is to grant the request of the people of old Ogoja by giving assent to the Bill seeking the establishment of the FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, OGOJA.
Long live the good people of old Ogoja Province
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Thank you and God bless you all.
Mike Udam
Team Leader
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