Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, is set to carry out community-based projects across the length and breath of the State, NATIONAL PANEL learnt.
This initiative, according to the Acting Director, Centre for Community and Extension Services, CCES, Associate Prof. Christy Chukwu is meant to foster healthy and productive relationship between communities and the federal institution in the state.
Chukwu who was represented by Mrs Janerita Peter, the Administrative Officer of the center, in a courtesy call to the community leaders and chairman of Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Dr. Eni Uduma Chima said that the initiative was driven by the Centre for Community and Extension Services (CCES) of the University.
She explained that the programmes and projects set aside by the Directorate would have direct impact on the socio-economic well-being of the rural dwellers when implemented.
The Associate Professor called for stronger and viable partnership with the leadership of the benefiting L.G.A adding that the implementation of the community-based projects will give the communities across the State further sense of belonging, considering how often they are deprived of basic social welfare and amenities.
"This little light of ours that is coming from AE-FUNAI through the instrumentality of our able Vice Chancellor, Prof Sunday Elom and my Director, Associate Prof. Christy Chukwu, will lit up your Community and other communities across the State, in no distant time," Chukwu said.
According to her, the vision of the Directorate is to boost the University’s relationship with all the autonomous Communities in Ebonyi State, to carry out programmes/projects in form of outreaches in the area of Health, Education, Agriculture, Human Capital Development, among others, too numerous to mention and to create an enabling environment that fosters areas of partnership between us and the benefiting communities across Ebonyi State.
"Let me state empathetically, that each project we will implement in any Community in the State, will be based on the outcome of our feasibility studies, because every Community is perculiar on its own. And the catalyst behind the implementation of our project is our burning desire to cause a CHANGE and to make lasting impact based on the perculiarity of each benefiting Community.
"We have chosen Thursday, 11th November, 2021 as a tentative date for the implementation of this project in your community. We will need a PILOT School and a CONTACT PERSON for the implementation of the project as 5 Representatives from 4 different schools will be in attendance during the event."
Responding, the Chairman of Afikpo South LGA, Dr. Eni Uduma Chima who commended AE-FUNAI for establishing the Centre for Community and Extension Services, CCES added that the initiative would further strengthen the University's relationship with Communities across the State.
He expressed the readiness of his Council to partner the CCES in the actualization of its proposed programme adding that the choice of his community, Ekoli Edda for the first phase of the implementation exercise was worthy of commendation.
Eni further called on the Centre to galvanize a process, which would lead to the eventual takeover of a newly built and furnished hospital at Ebunwana community for the use of Alex Ekuweme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State.
"Am happy this morning to receive a delegation from AE-FUNAI. Am more excited when I consider the packages they have brought to us in Afikpo South LGA. We are delighted to be chosen to benefit from the packages you have for the different communities within the State and the assurance we give to you from Afikpo South is that, all that we are required to do to partner with you, we shall not be found wanting
"The contents of your message is so pleasing to us, especially when it pertains to assistance to the communities in the area Agriculture, education, among others. They are in line with what we are already doing and desire to have in our community. So, choosing Ekoli Edda Community, which is also my own community makes it more interesting for me.
"There is a Tertiary Health Facility. It is actually supposed to be a branch of AE-FUNAI hospital. The way the former Ebonyi State Teaching Hospital has its extension service at General Hospital, Iboko. But this one was built anew. The buildings were built for the purpose of having a branch of AE-FUNAI Teaching Hospital. It was attracted by Senator Sonni Ogbuoji and sited in Ebunwana. It has been built, furnished and equipped and set. It is the Staff that are not there.
"So, I appeal to the Centre for Community and Extension Services, since they are also interested in the health sector, let them make this one functional. Let it be a starting point for greater relationship and their intervention in the Health needs of our people," he said.
