The current Acting Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University in Anambra has revealed that within the last 10 months, 12 students from the institution lost their lives in road accidents. The lack of residential hostels and school buses has forced students to rely on tricycles and motorcycles to travel through neighboring communities, leading to these tragic incidents.
During the third Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Memorial Lecture series, the Vice Chancellor emphasized the urgent need for intervention to ensure the safety of students and prevent such unfortunate events from reoccurring. She highlighted the necessity for residential hostels and school buses to reduce the risks faced by students commuting through inter-community roads.
Expressing concern over the incidents, she called for support from the public, especially affluent individuals in Anambra State, to aid the university in its development efforts. She also acknowledged the efforts of the state governor in fostering partnerships through the Private Public Community Partnership initiative, emphasizing the collective responsibility in addressing these challenges.
At the event, the guest lecturer, a former Minister of Aviation, delivered a speech on the theme “Harnessing education for national development: Lessons from the life and vision of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.” It is essential to address the safety concerns and infrastructure needs to prevent further tragedies and ensure a secure environment for the students and staff of the university.