Arthur Jarvis University requests Cross River State Government to facilitate repair of access road to school
Prof. Ani Ekang, Vice-chancellor Arthur Javis University (AJU) Akpabuyo, Cross River State which commenced academic activities four years ago has solicited support of the state government by opening access road to the school from the Calabar Ikang Express Way.
The first private University Vice Chancellor in Cross River State made the request Monday in an exclusive conversation with Lens correspondent in his office while talking about the challenges and other issues about the institution.
Prof. Ani Ekang said that AJU has a good relationship with the Cross River State Government and that as a private university, the institution is run from school fees and research grants for infrastructural development of the institution.
His words “Our major challenge is financing and we request for government support in the development of the university. We need government assistance to handle some of the basic necessities such as light, water and access road.”
“You have seen the access road from the expressway to the school and how bad it is. We appeal to the Cross River State Government to assist us on the road.” He added.
The Vice-Chancellor believes that Nigeria has not experienced a quality level of development because of disunity in the country and appealed to citizens and governments at all levels to unite for the purpose of achieving worthwhile development in the country.
He disclosed as well that AJU has expanded on infrastructural development to meet the needs of the students in terms of accommodation and lecture rooms to enhance quality of learning.
Prof. Ekang further said that the university has grown from the initial two Faculties -Natural Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences from where it started four year ago, to now five faculties having added Law, Education, and Basic Medical Sciences.
The university don disclosed also that AJU is a choice university that produces high quality manpower with staff strength of 70 Full-time lecturers and part-time lecturers. The student population reflects diverse demographics from across the country as well as the West African Sub region.
On how the school is managing the multiple activities on campus against the backdrop of the COVID pandemic, he said “Our University keeps strictly to COVID-19 protocols by ensuring the wearing of face masks, observing physical distancing and constant washing of hands and sanitizers in a bid to combat the dreaded pandemic.”
And in addition, he said, “the university has established COVID-19 Isolation centre and we have not recorded any cases of COVID-19 victim”.