The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has called on the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) to remain the intellectual bastion of hope in a nation trapped in the cobweb of fear and despair, insecurity, ethno-religious crisis, political fault-lines that appear to be widening while unity and brotherhood that the late Zik preached until he breathed his last now hang precariously and perilously on the thread.

While praising UNN leaders for their vision in piloting the affairs of the country since independence, Udom said: “We desire UNN to continue to be in vanguard to deepen our national unity, to live together as brothers and sisters or as Martin Luther King (jnr) once said, “perish together as fools”.

He pointed out that the great UNN was founded on hope 4 an enduring & vibrant Nigerian State, a nation that would distill and appropriate.

“We have the Lion Plywood manufacturing company, the Metering solutions company which produces prepaid electric meters that, thereby making it easier 4 consumers to accurately read their electric bills, we have a functional fertilizer blending plant, which produces this much needed agricultural input for the use of our farmers in the state & beyond.

Mr. Udom, who spoke during the 61st Founders’ Day Celebration of UNN on the topic: Changing the Narrative of Development Through Industrialization and Infrastructure, Thursday, also observed that, “Our State today boasts of numerous rice mills, a toothpick production factory, plastic production industry and a company which produces tissue paper using bamboo.

Earlier in his Goodwill message, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Charles Arizechukwu Igwe said that the founders’ Day celebrations were intended to celebrate the founding fathers of UNN as well as the most enduring and the most prestigious of the public lectures organized by UNN, saying the honour to deliver the lecture is reserved for men and women of great accomplishments.

He expressed joy that they were able to attract an accomplished professional and political leaders in the person of Gov. Udom.

The highlight of the occasion was the first public appearance of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, High Chief Ikechi Emenike and the Chancellor, who was represented.

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