Unizik lecturer, Onyejiaka Attracts Grant To Remodel, Construct Offices In Varsity

Dr. Joseph Chukwudi Onyejiaka of the Department of Estate Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state, has attracted grant to remodel, as well as construct new five modern offices for the department.

Onyejiaka, who disclosed this to Orient Daily in Awka, the Anambra state capital, said the project would help to solve the office space problem in the department, as well as add to the existing office spaces in the university

Onyejiaka, a senior lecturer and departmental ICT officer, said the building development grant was given by the CEO of Arnold and Associates, Mr. Arnold Ekweoba, a leading Real Estate Development Company in Anambra state. He said the benefactor was an alumnus of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, having graduated from the Department of Estate Management of the university in 2015.

According to the university don, I approached Mr Arnold in 2020, requesting him to contribute his quota as a corporate social responsibility to his alma mater – Unizik. He accepted to fund the project from start to finish.

On the import of the offices, he said, “A good number of staff in the department don’t have offices that will enable them perform their duties optimally. The project when completed, will therefore, solve the problem of lack of office spaces, especially for the new staff.

You can imagine a student who is a supervisee but his lecturer doesn’t have an office space to effectively supervise his project. The offices will ensure the availability of staff to our students.

“The department has been managing the little office space available to its staff. This will henceforth boost the chances of the department during National Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation exercises. The offices will be ensuite, spacious and learner-friendly.

“The provision of the offices will further increase the office spaces in the university, and be a plus to accreditation requirements. The offices have a capacity to accommodate 15 member staff and it’s a plus to the university”.

He further said he would use his office as Socials Secretary of Awka Branch of Unizik Alumni Association, to mobilise support for projects that would consolidate the giant strides in the university. He, therefore, thanked the benefactor, Mr. Arnold Ekweoba, for his kind gesture despite the coronavirus pandemic, while urging him not to rest on his oars.

While charging other staff to attract similar grants, Onyejiaka, also the departmental Alumni Liaison Officer, disclosed that he was part of faculty members that attracted a N5,000,000 Research Grant from High Chief Engr. Johnbosco Onunkwo, and a Building Grant for the construction of an ICT Building for students of the faculty, which, he said, the foundation stone laying was performed by Prof. Charles Okechukwu Esimone, FAS and the benefactor