The Vice-Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, Prof. Daniel Nwachukwu, has inaugurated a Joint University and Landowners’ Committee to address unresolved issues related to land ownership, compensation, resettlement, and the relationship between the University and its host communities to promote peace and development
The Committee includes representatives from both the University and its two host communities – Ndufu-Alike and Edufu-Echara autonomous communities of Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. This initiative aims to foster a peaceful resolution of land-related matters and enhance mutual understanding between the institution and the people whose ancestral lands are home to the University.
The University representatives on the committee include Prof. Celestine Afiukwa, Prof. Romanus Ejega, QS Chidi Ukwuoma, Prof. Arthur Nwachukwu, Dr. Onyekachi Eni, and Mr. Justin Azahan. The host communities are represented by Prof. Agabus C. Nwuzo, Mr. Ifeanyi Elom, Arc. Okeh Shadrach, and Mr. Odum Paul Oche Ifeanyi.
While inaugurating the committee, the Vice-Chancellor said that the committee’s terms of reference include identifying the original landowners, determining the existing arrangements regarding the land before government takeover, initiating the compensation process with the Ebonyi State Government, facilitating successful compensation and resettlement for affected landowners, promoting cordial relations between the University and the landowners, and addressing other land-related issues within and around the University community.
He urged members to approach their duties with sincerity, fairness, and a strong sense of responsibility, stressing that peaceful coexistence between the university and its host communities is crucial for the growth and stability of AE-FUNAI. He reiterated the Management’s commitment to maintaining constructive dialogue with the host communities and addressing all legitimate concerns through mutual understanding.
The Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Afiukwa, expressed gratitude to the University Management and community leaders for their confidence in the committee members. He described the task as one that touches the very foundation on which this institution stands, as well as the people whose land made that foundation possible. He assured that the committee would work diligently to achieve a fair and lasting resolution of the issues at hand.
He specifically pledged that the committee would handle land and compensation matters with transparency, fairness, and urgency, noting “we recognize the considerable responsibility placed on us and the expectations from both the University and the host communities”, promising that committee members would leverage their experience to fulfill their mandate successfully.
The inauguration of the Joint University and Landowners’ Committee is anticipated to provide a structured platform for dialogue, reconciliation, and the resolution of lingering land-related concerns, thereby further strengthening the bond between AE-FUNAI and its host communities.
