By Our Correspondent
The Vice Chancellor of the Anambra State -owned Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu University, Professor Kate Omenugha, has promised to make the University among the top 10 in Nigeria by the time she completes her tenure.
Omenugha, who was appointed the 5th substantive Vice Chancellor of the University last year by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, told reporters at the Igbariam main campus of the institution, that she would present a five- year strategic plan for the institution during its 16th convocation ceremony on Saturday.
She explained that the management of the University is broadening sources of funding for the university, adding that linkage programmes are also being planned.
“The legacy I want to leave for the university is clear, using our 5 -year strategic plan, which has a clearly defined road map and master plan.
“Before I leave, I want Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu University to be ranked top 10 in Nigeria and top 1000 in the world. It is doable, especially now that we have been registered for ranking”, she said.
“We are happy at the rate we are growing. At a time, the university was not even ranked,” she said .
According to her, the much -improved visibility of the university is already showing, going by the increasing number of students seeking admission into the institution.
“We are on the rise, as many departments are receiving much more applications than they could admit. For instance, Nursing alone received 1070 applicants and we do not have enough space for that number”, Omenugha stated.
She explained that a new Faculty of Communications and Media Studies would soon take off because of the increasing demand.
“By next year, the faculty building will be in place. That is one of the legacies I want to leave in this university as a Professor of Mass Communication. We already have COOU TV and a Podcast, while the radio station will soon be on air”, she added.
She said the the university will also establish a Business School, which, according to her, won’t be like any other, as the courses would be structured to meet the needs of industries and public institutions.
She added that online distance learning is also being planned, although she stated that the university would first defend it at the National Universities Commission, NUC.
Omenugha said that no fewer than 3,155 graduates will be receiving first degrees, while 808 will be getting postgraduate degrees during the convocation ceremony on Saturday.
