FIRST GO UNIVERSITY TOWN AND GOWN ASSEMBLY
The maiden Town-and-Gown Assembly of the university was held as planned on Tuesday, 10 May 2016 at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Convocation Arena. The theme was “Business Matters & Research Areas”. The assembly was chaired by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the university, Prof. Dr. Bartho Okolo. The following participants constituted the Town:
S/N Industry/Organization Representative
1 Aarons Place Ltd Clement K. Enyidu
2 Aarons Place Ltd Chris Nwatu Uchenna
3 Alo Aluminum Alex O. Ani
4 Anambra Igwe Tony Ochei
5 Ascort Resort Mrs. Nneka Ezika
6 Black Belt Konzult Barr. Michael S. Obiekwe
7 Celebrities Ltd Pastor Olisaemeka Jideofor(Rep.Nelson Kingsley
8 Chairman, BOT GO Uni Prof. Dr. Bartho Okolo
9 Commissioner for Environment Arc. Ambassador Fidel Ayogu (Rep. Arum Nnamdi)
10 Communications Dept., Catholic Diocese of Enugu Rev. Fr. Longinus Ugonwa
11 Daughters of Divine Love Education Commission Sr. Joseph Ann Anokwu (Rep.)
12 DeBill Business Clinic Ambassador (Mrs) Ifeyinwa Chime
13 ENSG Pat Uzoigwe
14 ESBS Jika Attoh
15 ESUT Prof. Dr. J. I. Chidobem
16 ESUT Dr. Mrs. Obasikene
17 First Bank Alvin Ochang
18 Force Intelligence & Investigation Dept, FIID, Enugu Okwudili Ikegbulam
19 Forham International Schools Dr. Vero Mogboh
20 G R Hotels Frank Odeh
21 GECA FairPalms Ltd Cyril Acha
22 Hezekiah University Dr. J. I. Anene, FNIM
23 ICT Entrepreneur Chief (Engr.) Elias Igwegwu
24 I-Gates Ltd Nkenchor Osemeke
25 Juhel Nigeria Ltd Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye
26 Jujak Company Ltd Engr. Julius Akpuokwe
27 LIFT, SAXUM Mrs. Nwanneka Okolo
28 Ministry of Chieftaincy Dr. Mrs. Chinwe Anibueze
29 Nigerian Army, 82 Div. Headquarters Colonel B. I. Alaya
30 Ohatu Ventures Marcus E. Ohatu
31 Primary Section, Education Commission, Catholic Diocese of Enugu Rev. Fr. Mike Okoh
32 Society for Quality Assurance John Moses U. Maduabuchi
33 The Bull Stanley Anachebe
34 Umuchinemere Procredit Microfinance Bank Mrs Nnenna Ekete
35 Victoria Garden Chinyere Agu
36 Zenith Bank PLC Damian Ozoke (Rep.)
The students and staff of the university, representing the Gown, participated in the Assembly. The Vice Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Prof. Christian Anieke, in his address welcomed the participants to the assembly. He explained that the Town and the Gown had not always had smooth relationships. History indicated that in some countries in Europe and America, there were times when communities engaged in battles with the university. Godfrey Okoye University with its tradition of dialogue was poised to ensure that it promotes dialogue with the Town. Rev. Fr. Prof. Anieke explained that the university had three-pronged dialogues (cultural, religious and epistemic dialogues) and the assembly’s focus was on the epistemic dialogue which espoused unity of knowledge. He expressed the hope that the Gown would learn from the wisdom of the Town and become more properly guided to steer the university towards proffering solutions to the problems of the society in which it was nested. Thus, the university would guide its students and staff to conduct research projects that would not just be filed in libraries and shelves but projects that would be useful to the industry and lead to the advancement of the country.
The Chairman of the Assembly in his opening remarks lauded the university for being innovative in introducing the Town-and-Gown Assembly. He explained that the objective of the assembly was to create opportunity for entrepreneurs, industrialists, government ministries and other members of the community to interact with the university. Thus the assembly was expected to yield ideas that would promote the relevance of the university practices to the needs of the society and chart ways that the university and industries could collaborate to advance the industries and the academic life of the university.
The former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Prof. J. I. Chidobem, in his remarks at the assembly, also praised the university for taking the lead in ensuring that it stayed relevant to the needs of the society.
Given the focus of the assembly, members of the Town made most of the presentations. They suggested areas of research and collaborations with the university. The university community represented by the Vice Chancellor, the Director of Academic Planning, the Director of Entrepreneurship Centre, the Chairwoman of the Senate Ceremonies Committee and a student contributed the following:
The university exists in the context of the society and had convened this assembly for the purpose of encouraging in the university research and projects that were relevant to the industries, enterprises and ventures that operate within Enugu and its surroundings.
The university would take to heart the issues and research areas proposed at this assembly, conduct the proposed research ideas and provide feedback to the relevant agencies and the public.
The university would equally modify its practices to engender the qualities expected from its graduates.
In order to achieve these research mandates and the qualitative training of its students, the university needed the support of enterprises and organizations with
Research funding
Promoting the products of the university (e.g., hand sanitizer, feed, dry fish, arts and crafts, photo work and music)
Purchase of the right to mass produce its inventions.
Using the consultation services of the university (the university has teams that provide statistical services, trainings, coaching and advising)
Inviting the university to deliver other services in its areas of competences
At the end of the discussion forum, the assembly visited the exhibition of some of the university products that included books, dry fish, art work, photo books, clothes, sandals, handbags, shoes, liquid soap, jewellery, feed and fish fingerlings.
With regard to the sentiments of the participants of the assembly, the Town appreciated the opportunity to proffer ideas to the university. The university in turn would maintain linkages with the participants from the Town to ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the Town.
