From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
The abandoned State Veterinary and Veterinary Investigations Centre at Achi, in Oji River local government area of Enugu state will be rehabilited by the present administration in Enugu state,vled by Governor Peter Mbah, to enhance livestock industry in the state.
The assurance was made by the state commissioner for agriculture, Dr Patrick Uburu, during a facility/inspection tour of the school on Wednesday, October 30.
He was accompanied by Hon. Osita Ezeh, representing Oji River constituency in the state house of assembly and a team of engineers from the state ministry of agriculture.
He lamented the dilapidation of various structures of the school aftermath of its neglect and abandomment by previous administrations in the state.
He said the state government is keen to revitalise the school so that it’s products will play key role in the current revolution being stirred in the agricultural sector by Governor Peter Mbah.
He gave the Principal of the school, Dr. Ugwu Johnsoon Ugo, an ultimatum of seven days to submit a detailed and comprehensive report on what iit will take to revitalise the school, to his office.
The Enugu state commissioner,Dr Patrick Uburu, said the engineers who joined him in the facility tour, were to access the rate of dilapidation of the physical structures in the school for prompt action.
During the visit, Commissioner Uburu,Hon.Osita Eze and others were conducted round the administrative building and the students hostels where they observed lots of dilapidated structures
They also observed the structures meant for the piggery, poultry,sheep and goats clinics etc, established in the school, which are presently neglected and under utilised.
The facility/inspection tour of Enugu State Veterinary School and Veterinary Investigation Centre conducted by the state commissioner for agriculture, Dr Patrick Ubulu and his team, was a consolidation of the plea by Hon.Osita Eze, representing Oji River constituency in the state assembly,for the revitalisation of the school, to enhance the agricultural sector of the state.
While he raised a motion to the effect before his colleagues during a plenary session of the state assembly held on October 10, Hon.cOsita Ezeh reiterated that the school which originally was established as Achi Farm School, played a historic role in the defunct Eastern region government, graduating veterinary technicians, who mastered the growth of the livestock industry beyond the Eastern region then.
It would be recalled that his colleagues concurred to his prayers, stating the products of the school will be of immense value to Governor Mbah’s move to boost livestock farming in the state. Hence, the bill scaled it’s first reading.
Dr.Uburu said the strenght of Hon. Osita Ezeh’s bill, stemmed up the visit by his team. He assuried to speed up the processes of revamping the school, as he has mandated the principal,Dr Ugwu Johnsoon to forward a detailed report to his office, within a week.
Commissioner Uburu also assured that his ministry will solve the problem of not issuing licence to graduates of the school to enable them practise and be recognised whem they apply for further studies.
He gave the assurance while responding to the complaint of an ex-student of the school, Mr Echezona Onuzuluike.
Mr Onuzuluike Echezona complained bitterly that he graduated since 2018, but all the efforts he made to secure his licence has been in vain.
He said the problem of non issuance of licence to the graduates started in 2015, for reasons best known to the ministry.
Mr Ofoezie Gilbert, who spoke on behalf of the host community, extolled Governor Mbah for coming to the rescue of the school, promising that his community will corporate with the state government, at every point their assistance is needed.
