The Executive Director, Prof. Ogbonna Onuoha, has pledged to maintain cordial and harmonious relationship with the Institute’s host community. He made the promise when prominent elders and youths of Akumaimo ancient kingdom led by their Eze-elect Chief Emeka Onwuka paid him solidarity visit in his office.

In his opening speech, Chief Onwuka had explained that they had come to pay formal courtesy call on the ED following his assumption of office and to show solidarity to his administration.

He noted that it was necessary that the ED should know the donors of the 209.5 hectares of land inhabited by the Institute. He stated that the land was donated by seven kindreds in Epomiri and Obikabia kindreds in Akumaimo community.

He added that it was expected that the donors of the land in which the Institute was sited should benefit from her operations and progress.

Lending his voice, Elder Clement Onuoha, advised the ED to be wary of any group of persons

parading themselves as landlords of the Institute outside Akumaimo community.

Prof. Onuoha thanked them for the visit especially from the clarification he had received from them about who the Institute’s original landlords were.
He noted that it was pertinent for the Institute to be at peace with her host community.

He assured them that he would explore ways, in spite of the Institute’s low budgetary allocations on operating costs, to give them a sense of belonging through the avenue of natural resources on ground, including leasing farmlands to them at subsidized amounts.

The ED further promised them that he would strongly advise and recommend to the Institute’s Governing Council to make provisions for them whenever there was openings on employment in the future.

Other Principal officers of the Institute were present to receive the visitors. These include the Registrar, Mrs. Charity Ijoma; the Bursar, Mr. Aliu Kolawole; the Institute Librarian, Prof. Cyprian Ugwu, and the Director of Works, Arc. Emeka Izuwah.

Godson Iheanyi Ugbor.
PAR(IPPR).