Oshiomhole commissions 1000-capacity lecture theatres at AAU

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state has commissioned two 500-seating capacity lecture theatres and a block of lecturers’ offices at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.

Also at the commissioning ceremony, the governor threatened to revoke the contract for the completion of the Administrative block of the University if the contractor fails to complete the project on schedule.

qOshiomhole said the management of the university justified the initial N250 million provided by the government to develop infrastructure in the university, which made the government to review its infrastructure commitment to the institution by 100 per cent doubling the N250m to N500m. He promised to further review the fund by another 100 per cent if the N500m is judiciously expended.

“I believe that the management of the University under Professor Agbebaku is the best of all time. When I told the commissioner of works how much this project caused, I am not sure he believed me until he heard from the VC herself.

“Let me say that listening to you and having inspected the three facilities you spent the money on, Prof, I can say you have done extremely well.

“Having seen what you have done with this amount, I’m sure you will do better with other N250 million which we have already released to you. The Chairman of council has said that the next time, he will drag me here will be to commission a few other projects, let me also say that once you bring me here, to show me what you have done with that N500 million, I will double it for university in the coming year. Once the people are getting value for money, there is incentive to provide more resources,” he said.

Oshiomhole added, “Let me also share with you my frustration at the pace of work at the administrative block. I thought by now, that project would have been completed and commissioned so that senior management and other academic and non-academic staff can have a very conducive environment to work. The time allowed for the contract has lapsed and the contractor is building at a snail speed.

“I have asked the commissioner to issue several warnings and I believe we have issued several warnings. If those warnings are not heeded and I come back here in October and we will revoke the contract and get someone else to do it.

“We are obliged to keep our promise. Our selling point is that when we promise, we keep our word. That is why I didn’t come here with 20-point agenda, 7-point agenda and all kinds of agenda. We just came to work and we are working.

On the issue of road network in the university, Oshiomhole stated, “We have some financial challenges right now, once you have again deployed what we have provided, we will provide even more.

To the students he said, “Let me appreciate you even more for your support not only to this government but also to the management of the university. This institution is your own. I went to the Emaudo Campus and we have seen that from a very modest beginning, this university has transformed to a new level. It is a positive story,” he said.

In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor of the University, HRH Prof Greg Akenzua, represented by Professor Thomas Audu said, “We are gathered here to inaugurate three projects funded by the Edo state Government as part of the Edo State Government intervention in the infrastructural development of our university.

“We are indebted in deep appreciation to the Comrade Governor in his avowed determination to move this University to the next level in infrastructural development,” he said.

Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Cordelia Agbebaku said due to the shortage of lecture theatres the Governor graciously approved money for the building of the theatres that were commissioned.