The Acting Vice-chancellor, Prof Carol Arinze-Umobi, on Thursday 17th July, 2025 held a Congress with the students. In her speech, Prof Arinze-Umobi said that she thought about the congress when she heard about an artisan that fell and died at Ifite. She expressed that the program was organized so as to let the students know the dangers of taking substance and that there is no life in it.
Encouraging the students, Prof Arinze-Umobi reminded them that they are here to study, and if there’s anything that will make them loose focus from it, they should derail from it as this is why efforts were underway to build more hostels, so that more students can live inside school.
In line with this, a recent donation from Paul Erinne foundation for the construction of a well equipped hostel, so that students can stay in a hostel where there will be minimal distractions.
Speaking at the Congress, the Dean, Student Affairs, Prof. Makodi Nnabugwu-Biereenu, in his address, expressed appreciation to the Acting Vice-Chancellor. He urged students to reflect on the fact that they are in the university for a purpose, having passed through several requirements such as JAMB and the payment of school fees to secure their place. Prof. Nnabugwu-Biereenu encouraged the students to remain focused on their academic journey and not lose sight of their goals. He further advised students to identify with groups that align with their academic and personal development goals, and to never hesitate to report any challenges or concerns to their student adviser.
The Director of the Centre for Counseling and Career Development (CCCD),Prof. Harry Obi-Nwosu, addressing the students, thanked the Vice-Chancellor for her candor and commitment to student welfare. He noted that her support reflects genuine concern, particularly her belief that empowering students with information and encouraging them to become advocates against substance abuse would positively influence not just the campus but also the surrounding community.
Prof. Obi-Nwosu encouraged students to work hard and assured them that the CCCD is always open to support them with any challenges they may face. In his presentation, he warned that substance use and abuse impacts all areas of life, impairing cognitive abilities, fostering confusion, irrational thinking, and undermining a positive outlook for the future. Prof. Obi-Nwosu also highlighted that the CCCD offers services beyond career development, including academic coaching, psychotherapy, and counseling and encouraged everyone to make use of those services.
Also giving their presentation was he President of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) Alexander Orji who sensitized the students about the committee’s role and encouraged them to report any cases of drug use or abuse they observe; Dr R. O Achugbue who was representing the Director Medical Services, where he talked about the health implications of substance abuse and how to prevent it and live a healthy life and the Regional Chairperson of ISUP and Dean of the faculty of Social Sciences, Prof Ezenwa who also encouraged the students against Substance Abuse.
The students were then given a chance to contribute and ask questions. The Acting Vice-chancellor, Prof Carol Arinze-Umobi, in answering the questions and challenges the students posed recalled that during her first administration, she reduced the GS fees by 50% and for their books to be E-book, so that they’ll only pay #5400, but she’s come to see that this is no longer the issue and she’ll look into it.
Prof Arinze-Umobi disclosed that she had commissioned a committee to go round and check how to access the natural water to feed the hostels and the report came in recently, so she has started the process and assured them in the next week, they’ll have clean water. For the girls hostel, they are working on the connection from the Faculty of law that has a bore hole that will run to all the girls hostel to make them have clean water.
The students were given an opportunity to contribute and ask questions. In response, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Carol Arinze-Umobi, addressed several of their concerns. She recalled that during her first tenure, she reduced General Studies (GS) fees by 50% and introduced e-books to lower the cost to ₦5,400. However, she acknowledged that the issue has since evolved and promised to look into it again.
Prof. Arinze-Umobi also revealed that she had commissioned a committee to assess the feasibility of accessing natural water sources to supply the hostels. The committee’s report was recently submitted, and she confirmed that the process has already begun. She assured students that clean water would be available within the next week.
Regarding the female hostels, she explained that efforts are underway to connect them to a borehole located at the Faculty of Law, which will provide a steady supply of clean water to all the girls’ hostels.