The Senator representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Prof. Anthony Ani has urged Nigerians to emulate the Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences at the University of Nigeria (UNN) Nsukka, Prof. Ogbonnaya Igwe on his works for posterity.
Ani made the call while inaugurating a pavilion attracted by Prof. Igwe and constructed by a Philanthropist, Chief Anthony Ofoma for the faculty.
The senator described the pavilion as a show of commitment from the dean and the philanthropist, to enhance the status of the faculty and create a conducive learning and working environment for its students and staff.
" I have a philosophy of life that there is tomorrow and Igwe who is my younger brother also shares and practicalises such philosophy.
"It is tomorrow that will talk about today and tomorrow, people will talk about what we left behind for posterity, today.
"What we should, therefore, be concerned about is what to do to serve God and humanity,"
He described Igwe as a man of integrity and character who has blazed the trail in his chosen career and the service of God and humanity.
".When I received the invitation from the dean, I did not hesitate to attend despite my commitments at the National Assembly which is resuming from recess.
"This is like a homecoming for me because I bagged my first and second degrees from this university while my son is a final year student here,".
He also thanked Dr Ofoma for his kind gesture to his alma mater and prayed to God not to allow his efforts to be in vain.
The Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences, UNN, Prof. Ogbonnaya Igwe thanked the guests for attending the event, especially the senator for honouring it despite his right schedule.
"I thank Dr Ofoma for his gesture towards the construction of the pavilion as he has proven to be a man of his word.
"I was at the Federal University of Technology Owerri a month ago to examine postgraduate students and Dr Ofoma called me.
"He asked me what was still needed at the place we were landscaping and I replied that we needed not just the ultra-modern seats that he promised but a car park.
"He said that we should do the inauguration and he will see what was remaining.
"Before the commencement of this event, he had gone round himself and seen what needs to be done,".
Ofoma in his remark, noted that the pavilion was part of his philanthropic gestures and he was pleased to initiate this particular one at the UNN.
"I was motivated to construct the facility because of the exemplary and innovative qualities of the dean of the department.
"I urge staff and students to judiciously utilise the facility and assure that all that is needed to make it conducive would be provided,
Speakers who spoke at the occasion also extolled the achievements of the faculty dean which include: the creation of the nuclear science department under the faculty and collaborating with the Vice Chancellor to move staff to the new department.
Igwe was also commended for attracting a donor for the construction of a befitting building for the department and securing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the faculty and Kyoto University in Japan for staff and student exchange programmes, involving research collaboration.
He was equally commended for regularising appointments that are unprecedented despite inheriting a large number of appraisals occasioned by strikes and COVID-19 breaks and processing an unprecedented number of promotions among other feats.
