Banner Online News

By Chukwudi Abiandu

Stars University, Idumuje-Ugboko, in Delta State will commence academic sessions in September 2018, according to its Chancellor, Rt. Hon. Ned Munir Nwoko, who spoke during a media interaction with members of the Delta Online Publishers’ Forum (DOPF) on Sunday in his country home, Idumuje-Ugboko, Delta state.
The decision to set the date for intakes to come in followed the approval conveyed to him by the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) in a letter dated 3rd November, 2017 and signed by Alhaji Abdullahi Hamza, Director, Establishment of private Universities on behalf of the Commission’s executive secretary.
The letter titled “Re- Application for Approval of Stars University, Idumuje-Ugboko: False Representation As It Relates to Titl Documents to Land for the Project” reads: “I have been directed to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 1st. November, 2017, on the above subject.
“I am further directed to convey the Commission’s approval to commence development on the unencumbered 58.9 hectares of land as requested in your application.”
Answering a question Prince Nwoko said: “The first academic session will commence in September 2018.” The implication is that with the NUC approval he has now secured the green light to commence and hasten work on both the physical and the academic work towards admitting the university’s first intakes.
On why he decided to set up the university with sports bias, Prince Nwoko: “I want a sports bias university. I believe we must train our youths from young age in sports and offer them opportunity to also excel in academics. I studied History and law in London, combined honours. We don’t have that type in Nigeria. So, I decided that this type should also be made available in Nigeria, such that our sports people while training in sports can simultaneously pursue their academic studies also. And the NUC is not shy from innovations.”
He continued: “I believe that university is the only thing that will outlive us. They are not for profit making. I am not going into this to make money, but to bequest a place to posterity.
He announced that the CofO is secured in the name of the university in line with NUC’s requirement, who gave him a list of 25 experts covering environmental impact assessment and other areas including the master plan of the university on which five professors worked on, all costing him money.