An association of Alumni of Abia State University Uturu, known as Zenith Environmental and Social Protection Network (ZESPRONET) has appointed the Abia State PDP Governorship candidate Prof Uche Ikonne as the Grand Patron of the association.
in a brief ceremony held at the Umuahia residence of Prof Eleazar Uche Ikonne, who is also the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the university, the international president of the organization Dr. Boris Emeka Oji, a US based medical doctor, represented by Abia State Head of Service, Sir Onyii Wamah, said the association after due considerations based on Prof Ikonne’s pedigree and quality mentorship skill and achievements, the association has elected to appoint him as its Grand Patron in appreciation of his great impact in the life of his former students who are doing exploits in different parts of the world.
He congratulated him for his success at the PDP primary election which produced him as the flag bearer of his party and stated that the system that threw him up wanted the best for the state.
Responding, Prof. Ikonne apologised for his inability to be part of the association’s 2022 Fundraising Dinner held in Abuja, he said that it was due to some unavoidable engagements and commended the organizers for having a good outing.
He thanked the association for finding him worthy of such an honour and said, “While in school I made myself available for everybody, I am aware that parents bring their children to be trained and I made sure that I related to all manner of characters and made something positive out of them”.
Many of my students are in the diaspora and You don’t bring the diaspora just by mouth you have to earn their trust by giving quality service, you must show capacity and transparency to attract diaspora interest, during my time as the VC, I organised the first diaspora convocation that attracted so many dignitaries and alumni of the school from across the world.
That’s the essence of my dictum “Participatory Governance” I will make them part of my government when elected, I will engage diaspora group, good and quality hands in all fields of endeavour and make them partners in the development of the state and the region, and we will do total recovery of all departments in the state, we will exploit the enormous economic potential of not just the state but the south-east zone, I will champion regional integration and ensure infrastructural and economic development for the good of the people.
Other members of the group who were part of the team include, Pastor Ugochukwu Uchegbu, Mr. Emeka Alaribe and Mr Ugochukwu Iheonunaekwu.
The association in November last year handed over an N80,000,000 (Eighty Million Naira) post-graduate hostel, to Abia State University.
Credit: Uche Ndi Abia Media Unit
