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  • Updated: March 07, 2022

Forum Opposes Modifcation Of Ambrose Alli University Campus

Forum Opposes Modifcation Of Ambrose Alli University Campus

A non-Governmental Organisation, The Edo-Okpa Unity Forum has opposed to the proposition of the Edo State Government to renovate Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma into multiple campuses.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of its Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Peters Evbota and Chief Peters Evbota, the forum expressed its view of the proposition as a concealed political ambition.

As reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, the statement revealed that the outcome came as a shock to the citizens of Edo Central, where the university is situated.

Governor Godwin Obaseki  of Edo State had announced the modification of AAU into three campuses during a townhall  meeting on February 18, with the main campus to be located in Epkoma and the other two in Oredo Local Government Area and Owan federal constituency.

The forum noted that the institution, in recent times, hasn't received adequate funding. And this, the government blamed on scarcity of funds.

“Bearing this in mind, how does this same government now want to embark on a multi-campus development which will mean new structures, new recruitment of personnel and a whole lot of other financially involving tasks?

“What this goes to show is simple: AAU has been deliberately starved of funds over these years by the government to these hidden political schemes to crumble the socio-economic power of Esanland.

“As it is today, Edo South has the great University of Benin, Edo North has Edo University and Edo Central has the Ambrose Alli University.

“Can there be anything more balanced than what we currently have to warrant the balkanisation of AAU not minding the attendant effect on resources and academics,” the forum expressed.

The Forum  further explained that coverting the uinstitution ino three campuses would require more funding and affect the students in diverse ways. 

It however advised that the state goverment aborts the multi-campus policy, which would adversely affect the structure of the school, thereby affecting its rating among universities.

It encouraged the government to pay more attention to promoting the institution such that it becomes the best state-owned university and a citadel of learning to both local and international students instead.

Alternatively, the Governor can resort to, if he feels he has the required resources, establish new universities in the affected areas and leave AAU as a mono campus system.

“It’s obvious His Excellency is ill-advised on this decision as what AAU needs now is funding, setting benchmarks for academic performances and encouragement for growth.

“With these, the university will not only be self-sustaining in terms of income generation but can also contribute to the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

"Balkanising AAU is totally a wrong decision that will have lots of obvious failures during implementation.

"The Governor should think through this as Edo Central (Esan) people don’t want AAU balkanised into a multi-campus institution," it read.

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