BREATH OF NEW LIFE IN NOCEN AS PROVOST HOLDS FIRST INTERACTIVE SESSION WITH STAFF

From the punctuality of the Provost, to the staff turn up, to the wellworded inaugural speech of the Provost, everything looked new when Dr Justina Anyadiegwu, the new Provost of Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe held her first interactive session with members of the College staff.

The interactive session which kicked off with an opening prayer said by Rev. Fr Obidinnu Vincent, witnessed an unusual staff turn up as the auditorium was filled to brim.

In her inaugural address, the Provost thanked God Who holds and determines her destiny; the Executive Governor of Anambra State for appointing her Provost despite numerous options he had and the oppositions from within and outside the College. She promised him that she would deliver on the mandate. She also thanked the previous administrations of the College for keepingthe College afloat. Finally, she thanked the staff for their sacrifices and commitments in discharging their duties. She however charged them to be professional at all times in the discharge of their duties.

She spoke comprehensively on the challenges bedeviling the College and provided the roadmap to resolving them.

In the fourteen-page Inaugural Address, the Provost relayed her vision to the College staff which bothers on good ethics, visibility and viability. She charged members of staff to upscale in digital literacy as technology will be deployed massively in teaching and learning as well as in all administrative and financial processes.

She also urged all departments to look inwards first services before external engagement; and to think and act entrepreneurially for substance

Again, she thanked Mr Governor for appointing the Board of the College Governing Council headed by Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe to assist the College in overcoming the challenges facing it. With this appointment of the calibre of experienced professionals, she was optimistic that the ‘storm is over’ for the College.

She enjoined members of staff to maintain a very clean environment always, and encouraged them to add physical exercise and farming to the list of what they do as the importance of each one of them cannot be downplayed.

She ended by calling on every staff, and union chairpersons of SSUCOEN and COEASU for cooperation and collaboration in order to take the College to enviable heights.

Reacting to the inaugural address, the College chapter chairman of COEASU, Mr C Nwabunze lauded the Provost for her thoughtfulness and prayed that the interactive session be made a culture in the College to enable constant rubbing of minds for continuous growth and development of the College.

In her own remarks, the SSUCOEN chairman of the College, Mrs Chioma thanked the Provost for her clear road map towards tackling the challenges facing the College. She described the Provost’s words as “soothing” and assured her of SSUCOEN’s unalloyed support.

Dr Ndụ Azubuike also thanked the Provost. He prayed that the Provost helps the College to fully navigate the murky waters for the overall benefit of the College. He also pleaded with the Provost to consider the construction of good access roads within the College.

The Dean Students’ Affairs, Dr. Law Egbomuche praised the Provost as youthful and capable to work with energy as expectedly she has begun already. However, he differed on the College needs with Mr. Ndụ Azubuike, begging the Provost to prioritize salary payments against construction of roads in the College. He cited the high cost of things as a big threat to salary earners like the College staff.

Mrs Chinwe Nebolisa of Business Education called on every staff to think out of the box for the betterment of the College. Quoting John F. Kennedy, she urged every staff to be more concerned with the thoughts of what to do for the College and not what the College will do for them. She thanked the Provost for her passion towards the growth and development of the College.

The Provost, in her reactions, urged everyone to acknowledge that the College as every other establishment, is in dire financial need. She enjoined everyone to remain steadfast and committed with the belief that breakthrough is in sight. She thanked the College staff for their support so far and encouraged them to keep it up.

The interactive session came to an end when Ven. Dr C.C Chukwurah said the closing prayer.

Benny O. Egbunonu MNIPR
College Information and Public Relations Officer.