By Ikenna Nwokedi
The project manager midwifing the construction of the ongoing 500-seater ultra modern auditorium of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka has hinted that the building project will be completed within the next three months.
Engr. Chidi Anuligo, CEO/MD Arcon Global Engineering Ltd stated this on Monday, 10th June 2024 during an interview session with journalists at the site of the construction project domiciled behind the Economics Department building in the aftermath of the recent tour of the project by the benefactor Chief Chinedu Benson Madubuko.
Engr. Anuligo informed that the ongoing Faculty of Social Sciences Auditorium project would be made up of a modified 700-seater auditorium, office rooms – about 20 in number, classrooms with 100 to 120 seating capacity for students, concourse – large enough to host conferences, areas that can serve for breakout sessions during conferences and modern conveniences.
Engr. Anuligo further disclosed that the building project which commenced in December 2022 was supposed to be a 500-seater auditorium but in the process of construction was modified to 700-seater irked in such a way that the stage can be seen from any part one is seated in the complex. The construction expert revealed that the project is at the roofing stage with the steel work to be completed in no distant time before the placement of the roofing sheets.
Anuligo said: “We kick-started this project in December 2022 and from its initial design, it was supposed to be a 500-seater auditorium but in the process of construction, we made some modifications which will lead to 700-seater at the end of the project. We are currently at the roofing stage with the steel work ongoing and taking time due to the intricaces involved and peculiar nature of steel construction.
“We are optimistic that very soon the roofing sheets will be in place after the steel work as we have started plastering the building with the ground floor already completed as well as the surfaces and the walls while most of the doors on the ground floor have been installed. This is to show you that the project is in a haste to be completed,” Anuligo stated.
The Project Manager while disclosing some key features of the project, stressed that upon completion of the auditorium, it will serve various academic and administrative purposes for the Faculty of Social Sciences and by extension the University community geared towards making the students’ stay in the institution a memorable one and enhancing academic activities in the university.
He added: “The building features are unique having two major staircases for accessing of the upper floor, an auditorium that is irked meaning that from every part where you are standing or sitting you can view the stage. Meanwhile, the auditorium building project has about 20 room offices, classrooms that can contain up to 100 to 120 students, concourse that is large enough to host conferences, large areas that can serve for breakout sessions during conferences and modern conveniences.
Anuligo thanked Chief Madubuko for endowing such a huge project for the University and eulogized them for the opportunity to undertake the construction work, he also stated that the building will have a life span of not less than 50 years emphasizing that his construction firm is committed towards delivering quality construction services in the course of building a very modern auditorium for the Faculty of Social Sciences at UNIZIK.
The Faculty of Social Sciences Auditorium building project is an endowment by Adazi-Ani born business mogul Chief Chinedu Benson Madubuko, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of De Chico Investment Ltd. Chief Madubuko was recently conferred with the Honorary Doctorate degree in Entrepreneurship and Humanitarian Services at the 18th Convocation ceremony of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka held on Friday, 31st May 2024.
