Northern group, Arewa Youth Assembly, has commended the Federal Government for conferring National Productivity Order of Merit’ (NPOM) award on the immediate past Vice Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Benjamin Chukuma Ozumba.
According to the group, the award is well deserved considering the achievements of the consultant gynecologist, whose tenure as UNN VC witnessed unprecedented innovations and inventions that stood the University out in Sub-Sahara Africa.
The group, in a statement signed by its Speaker, Mohammed Salihu, Monday, also commended government for considering other notable Nigerians including the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.), and business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for the awards, noting that it was a list of legendary achievers.
According to the group, “Prof.Ozumba tenure was a period of revolution, discovery, inventory, infrastructural development, more academic work and harmony within the institution and its immediate host communities. Some of his achievement that attracted us included establishment and launching of the first and only university embedded incubator (THE ROAR NIGERIA HUB) in sub Saharan Africa in May 2017.
“He initiated first and only university-based tractorization in Nigeria in partnership with private sector. He established the first and only university-based science park (Lion Science Park) in sub Saharan Africa. He established the first and only university-based laptop assembly plant (Lion Technologies) which assembles laptops for the students and staff of the university.
“He revived the UNN agricultural farm ltd by establishing a pilot project for dairy farm, small farm, piggery, poultry among others which some states have keyed into. He restored the research culture for which UNN is known for by facilitating the formation and registration of over 200 research units with appropriate incentives for take off.”
On infrastructure he said, “Prof Ozumba embarked on massive infrastructural development for UNN which including Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science multipurpose building, renovation of dilapidated hostels and building of more hotels for pharmacy students and many more too numerous to mention”.
Arewa Youth Assembly lauded the Federal Government for finding him worthy of the award, noting that the academic “has served our nation via education with dedication, enthusiasm, hardwork, honesty, zeal, love, trust, passion, integrity, commitment, courage and he is ready and prepared to contribute his wealth of knowledge and experience to move this nation forward.”
