Michael Okpara varsity women association opens events centre in Abia

The saying that whatever a man can do a woman can do better was demonstrated recently when a group of women under the name of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Women Association (MOUAUWA) commissioned an ultra-modern events centre they   for the school.

The commissioning which took place at the events centre located at a land that is adjacent to the main campus of the university attracted a lot of personalities with the wife of the state governor, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, declaring it open for use.

Speaking while commissioning the centre, Mrs Ikpeazu said that the modern event centre was in line with the aspirations of her husband’s administration in the state, which is placing emphasis on education, adding that the administration was committed to education to enhance employment, adoption of schools and free school meal which would provide calories needed by pupils in the state school system.

“The women of MOUAU have done marvelously well by  building this  edifice and it tells of their resourcefulness and determination to achieve success. This also shows that women are capable of achieving any goals they set for themselves”, she said.

Earlier in her welcome speech, the President of the association, who is also the wife of the Vice Chancellor of the university, Mrs Georgina Edeoga, said that the centre would serve as lecture hall, exam centre, conferences, workshops, seminars and social events.

“The initiative is in line with the vision of the vice chancellor, Prof Hilary Edeoga who vowed to massively transform the infrastructure  of the university when he assumed office five years ago. The reason for building this project is the commitment to meet the varied needs of our society.

“Today’s commissioning ceremony is a great event and a milestone in the annals of the history of MOUAU. Indeed, this is not the occasion to determine the project’s objective, but I would mention important goal of complimenting the efforts of the university management ably piloted by Prof Hilary Edeoga to give the university a facelift by infrastructural development. MOUAU women association has tailored her value driven service to meet the need of staff, students and the host community through this event centre.

“It is heart-warming to note that the problem of large classes will fade away as it is now possible for lecturers to hold their lectures in this events centre. Similarly, the centre will serve as one of the venues for examinations in MOUAU.

“In furtherance to this, the event centre will serve a good purpose for hosting of the departments in the university. It will also be used for wedding ceremony cum reception by staff and members of the host communities.

“Every investment we make in people constitutes the strongest building block for securing the bright and rewarding future of our dreams. In view of the foregoing, I am highly elated to state that I have taken some of the MOUAUWA members to attend conferences in the United States of America, South Africa, Ghana and United Arab Emirates(Dubai). The aim is to enhance the potentials of our women through improved information, knowledge and skills since they play significant roles in population and development of our families. Similarly, I wanted to ensure that women realize their full potentials and become equal partners in development of our university and Nigeria at large.

“It is pertinent to remind you that I will be stepping aside very soon since my tenure is fast ending as the president of MOUAUWA. Thus I wish to to use this platform to request MOUAUWA and other members of the university community to give overwhelming support to the incoming president of MOUAUWA president.

“In furtherance to this, the event centre will serve a good purpose for hosting of events such as conference, workshop and seminars by the various colleges/ departments in the university, including wedding ceremony cum reception by staff and members of the host communities”.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Hilary Edeoga noted that because of the transformation that has taken place in the institution candidates from Abuja, Lagos and beyond the catchment area, are now applying to the university.

He said that MOUAU was the only university with the white Internet interactive board which he said students use free, including the generating sets and solar panels that have helped to light up the campus.
Prof Edeoga said for five years running, the university has not been shut because of student’s unrest in spite of what he described as attacks from the Academic Staff Union of Universities [ASUU] against the university management.