Determined to improve the state of facilities in their Alma Mata, the alumni association of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Lagos chapter has launched a N100m Appeal Fund for the upgrading and renovation of the university health centre.
Chris Iyere, chairman of the Lagos chapter of AAU Alumni association while speaking at a Fundraising and Awards Dinner in Lagos, decried the preventable deaths and lose of lives in the university community as a result of the poor state of the health centre on the university campus.
Iyere pointed out that a visit to the health centre revealed that the facility is operating with obsolete equipment, some dating back to the 80s when the facility was established.
According to Iyere, “It is appalling that students are still dying due to common malaria as there are no modern diagnostic equipment for proper test, the building is in shambles, no beddings in the wards. It calls for serious introspection and action,”
He therefore urged the alumni of the university to donate generously to the fund.
Lawson Omokhodion, Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Ambrose Alli University in his goodwill message to the occasion commended the Lagos chapter of AAU alumni for its decision to give back to the university that made them what they are today by raising funds for the upgrading of the university health centre and building of an E-learning centre and other projects in the university.
Omokhodion who was ably represented by Osezua Abhulimen, an alumnus of AAU, said the new Governing Council inaugurated in October 2018 has been tackling the problems of dearth of infrastructure in the university, wrong deployment of academic faculty, deficient international linkages, inadequate funding of the university among other challenges.
He specifically commended the Visitor to the university and the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki for the support he has given to the Council to turn around the fortunes of the University.
Omokhodion listed some of the progress made by the university under the present Governing council to include the commissioning of four massive buildings funded by TETFUND in November this year at the cost of N4 billion.
In addition, he said that the President of Dangote Group of Industries, Aliko Dangote has pledged to build two 500-room hostels for male and female students during the last convocation of the university to help reduce the problem of accommodation of students in the university.
The chairman of the Governing Council commended some alumni of the university such as Chris Oyakhilome, Founder of Christ Embassy Church and Tony Elumelu, Chairman of UBA for their contributions to the growth of the university.
Notable alumni were given awards for distinguished career and humanitarian services. They include Sylva Ogwemoh, the first graduate of the university to be conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN), Frank Egboh, a legal practitioner and immediate past Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of AAU alumni association, Clifford Omozekhian, Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria among others.
KELECHI EWUZIE
