By Ikenna Nwokedi
The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Professor Carol Arinze-Umobi has promised enhanced sporting and recreational activities under her watch as the institution’s Chief Executive Officer.
Prof. Arinze-Umobi made the remarks when a team of female student-athletes led by the Anambra State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), National Director of Sports, Mr. Ernest Okafor interfaced with the Acting Vice-Chancellor on Thursday, 8th August 2024 at her office.
Speaking on behalf of the student-athletes, Blessing Ifechukwu, a 400-level student of the Department of English Language and a national volleyball player congratulated the Acting Vice-Chancellor for her emergence as the institution’s head.
Miss Ifechukwu stated that the visit was to show solidarity, identify with the Acting Vice-Chancellor who is a lover of sports as well as to lodge a complaint about the non-payment of the prize monies promised the student-athletes who had a podium finish from the last South East Universities Games (SEUGA) hosted by UNIZIK earlier in the year. She affirmed that student-athletes are willing to compete favourably with their counterparts from other instititions and raise the visibility of the institution with the right support from the University management.
Prof. Arinze-Umobi in her response highlighted the importance of sporting activities in enhancing physical and mental development of the student-athletes and raising the visibility and image of the institution to the outside world. The Professor of Laws disclosed that during her active days at the University of Benin, she studied through scholarship because of laurels won through active engagement in sports.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor informed that she still holds the current national record in Discus and Shotput for the Nigeria Universities Games Association (NUGA) competitions as well as a record of 23 gold medas inside her kitty. The scholar praised the expoits of students-athetes in the area of team sports while lamenting the below par performance in athletics event. The Ag. Vice-Chancellor also promised to address the complaint made by the student-athletes and ensure that the prize monies promised to them during the SEUGA games would be fulfilled.
Prof. Arinze-Umobi called on the Directorate of Sports and the University/VC’s Committee on Sports to develop a programme that will lead to massive engagement of students through sporting activities.
