PETER ODEY SEND MESSAGE TO All STUDENTS OF PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN CROSS RIVER STATE AS THEY RETURN BACK TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CAMPUSES
Fellow Cross Riverians, dear friends/ respective students of the public Universities in our dear State. It is true that the past eight accedemic calendar months was challenging with difficult times and unfair moments with students and parents who are equally lecturers, in our public university, as a result of the strike embarked upon by members of the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) over the long standing disagreement between the federal government of Nigeria and ASUU which however, had halted the progress of all academic activities in our public universities, and as well has created setbacks in our expectations in pursuit of your academic journey.
Nevertheless, recall also that prior to the strike, there had been remarkable and very significant development in one of our public institutions, which was the change of our State own University named from the then CROSS RIVER UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (CRUTECH), to the now UNIVERSITY OF CROSS RIVER STATE (UNICROSS) through a Bill sponsored by myself in the floor of the Cross River State House of Assembly legislative session.
The dream of the Bill was necessitated by my honest and sincere drive to expand the State own institution (UNICROSS) to cater for the creation of more faculties, departments, such as, faculty of Law, School of medical college and some units. Moreso, the idea was targeted at accommodating more courses to accord the university with the strength of competing with many public universities, and also to create adequate employment opportunities for all Cross Riverians and eligible members of the public.
It is worthy of note that the protracted Corona Virus (Covid-19) era and the subsequent industrial action by ASUU largely halted anticipated spirit of collective minds for tremendous progressive work in place in other to facilitate the creation of those faculties and introduction of the additional professional courses at the University of Cross River State, (UNICROSS.)
Meanwhile, the eight months period of the industrial action by members of the academic staff union of university (ASUU), witnessed great and landmark political exercise and activities which has secured my nomination as the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in our dear State, (Cross River) in a joint ticket with our consummate, celebrated and a sterling Leader, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu as the Governorship Candidate of our great party the APC in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
My acceptance of the humble nomination sterns from my firm convictions that you and our dear state deserves the very best, also with my poise to deliver on my standing determination to commit the structural growth and development of our institutions, and pursue broad based and quality education for you all in my very possible way, as well as to continually formulate programs and projects that will reposition our state for the admiration of all of us.
I passionately commend you all for your resilience and the peaceful disposition you enhanced and committed yourselves to during the strike action, and I urge you all never to relent in protecting and contributing to building the best society we crave through your actions and inactions, as civilized personalities who all look forward to becoming leaders of tomorrow.
With keen attention, I am obviously concerned about the need to further drive more sensitisation to reawaken your consciousness on giving aggressive focus, commitment and determination to strengthen and build your academic pursuits in an enviable heights. In this circumstances, I shall in the coming days develope work plans with the administration and leadership of the various campuses in the state on the need for an interactive session with you, which is expected to have us identify and chart ways to ending most challenges peculiar to you in your various campuses and to also bring to bare our blue print.
My fellow compatriots, as you make your return back to your various campuses across the state.
A. I enjoin you all
to remain determined and focus in your pursuits of academic excellence.
B. To build and maintain strategic planning positively and collaborate with necessary persons with the aim of achieving your set goals in a higher pedigree.
C. To seize distracting mindsets and continuously create distance with all tendencies capable of hurting your push for excellence in your endeavors.
D. To develope solid irritating disposition towards all manner of social vices in your best possible ways.
E. To uphold steadfast spirits with a strong faith and worship to Almighty God for a sustained Divine direction, guidance and protection.
May God bless you all and grant you excellence in your academic endeavors.
RT. HON. PETER ODEY
The Leader, Cross River State House of Assembly, and the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Cross River State.
