In a heartfelt gesture to foster unity, inclusiveness, and understanding within the university community, the Forum for Unity and Progress, an umbrella body of non-Igbo staff, recently paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, Prof. Daniel Nwachukwu, when the Vice-Chancellor assured them of inclusivity and fairness in his administration.
During the visit, the forum congratulated Prof. Nwachukwu on his appointment as Vice-Chancellor, and expressed their support to his administration, promising to strengthen collaboration among staff to move the university to greater heights.
They described the visit as a chance to formally introduce the association and its goals to the university leadership, noting the increasing contributions of non-Igbo speaking staff to the growth and development and development of the university since its establishment in 2021.
Speaking, the forum’s leader, Dr. Williams Osatuyi expressed confidence in the ability of the Vice-Chancellor to lead with purpose and drive the university’s pursuit of academic excellence, innovation, and sustainable development.
He stressed the importance of fostering an inclusive environment that embraces the diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds present at the university, adding that over the years, the university has transformed into a lively community that mirrors Nigeria’s rich diversity, ensuring fairness, inclusivity, and responsive to everyone’s needs within the university community.
In his response, the Vice-Chancellor took a moment to express his gratitude to the Forum for their visit and the goodwill. He praised the group for their dedication to peace, unity, and harmonious coexistence within the university community.
The Vice-Chancellor assured them of his administration’s commitment to fairness, equity, and inclusivity in all its actions, emphasizing that the university is a place for everyone, no matter their ethnic, cultural, or linguistic background.
“A university should be a space where we celebrate diversity and use it as a catalyst for growth.
“Every individual in this institution, regardless of their origins or the language they speak, plays a vital role in our shared progress. Our administration will continue to champion the values of merit, justice, and equal opportunity for all”, he stated.
He also welcomed the insights and suggestions shared by the forum and reaffirmed his dedication to an open-door policy that promotes constructive engagement and dialogue for the benefit of the university.
The visit wrapped up with a congratulatory gift presented to the Vice-Chancellor, followed by a group photograph to mark the occasion and strengthen the collective commitment to unity, inclusiveness, and the development of the institution.
