Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has expressed his determination to rebuild Abia State University(ABSU) into a citadel of excellence in learning, research and administration.
Otti made this known when he received a report on the institution by the Full Visitation Panel to Abia State University Uturu, in Nvosi , Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area on Thursday.
The governor said that the panel was set up to identify and address any threat to the vision of turning the university into a world class institution.
“We had set up this full visitation panel to undertake a robust study of the systems and structures at ABSU, and evaluate how they align with international best practices.
“Also the panel would return to us with a comprehensive report that would direct what we do next, in terms of investments and policy formulation in collaboration with the relevant agencies and partners.
“What we ultimately seek to achieve is to rebuild ABSU into a citadel of excellence in learning, research and administration.
“We want to frontally confront and eliminate whatever constitutes a threat to our vision of turning the University into a world class institution.
“An institution that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its peers across the world on all the indices that matter in University education,” he said.
Otti said that he would painstakingly go through the findings and recommendations of the panel.
He expressed optimism that the excellent work done by the panel would be of great help in the plan to transform ABSU.
Otti said: “My promise is that ABSU shall witness a great rebirth under our watch.
“The staff of the university shall be availed the right support to improve themselves and become better equipped for the very important assignment of shaping the future of our young ones.”
He commended the chairman and members of the panel for the timely completion of the assignment given to them.
Earlier, the Chairman of the panel, Prof. Steve Okodudu, thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve the people of Abia.
Okodudu said that the efforts of the panel would yield results only if the report would be thoroughly examined and put into action.
“The report we are presenting is the result of thorough research, extensive interviews, and diligent peer review sessions, thereby ensuring its factual accuracy and verifiability.
“We hope that the contents of this Full Visitation Panel Report will justify your expectations.
“Your excellency, this report is a prima facie document that will require your further executive evaluation.
“For this reason, I am not authorised to discuss specific observations, findings, or recommendations at this juncture.”(NAN)