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Rt. Hon. Ned Nwoko

The seed that will grow, birth and show case stars of Stars’ University, was sowed Tuesday, April 3rd, 2018 in the sleepy town of Idumuje-Ugboko, Delta state with the ground breaking ceremony performed by Mr. Jude Sinebe, Commissioner for Higher Education who represented the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa at the event.
Mr. Sinebe, and others were led with other dignitaries by the host, Rt. Hon. (Prince) Munir Ned Nwoko and Chancelor of the university to the ground breaking venue, where the commissioner cut the tape and performed the turning of the sod.
The event which had in attendance dignitaries that included traditional rulers, international football star, John Fashanu who flew in from London, Olympic long jump medalist, Chioma Ajunwa, including political faithful of Prince Ned Nwoko and associates, was chaired by Captain (Dr.) Hosa Okunbo, chairman of Ocean Marines Solution, Port Harcourt.
In his speech, Captain Okunbo declared that the ceremony was one for the sowing of a good and marvelous seed that is good in our sight.”
He commended the passion that Prince Nwoko has for his people. Okunbo said: “Ned is very passionate about his people. Putting up this edifice in his home town, Idumuje-Ugboko exemplifies his passion for his people. He could have put it elsewhere.
“As he sows the seed for Stars University, a special university for sports; I came in and saw John Fashanu, an international football icon, may be next year we will see Usen Bolt.”
Captain Okunbo decried the absence of role models in the society to impart good moral values to the upcoming generation. “It’s unfortunate that these days there are no more role models. As we grow now, moral values are being eroded, that so much emphasis is placed on money, without anyone thinking about how a person came by his money in society.
“I must not fail to mention Chioma Ajunwa, the lady who gave Nigeria a gold medal at the Olympics. These are role models,” Okunbo said. And to Nigerians he asked: “Are you a role model or are you just a thief that steals money and display them without a visible means of livelihood?”
Talking at the event, Prince Ned Nwoko, chancellor of the proposed university called up Mr. John Fashanu and Chioma Ajunwa, saying they remained his sources of inspiration in setting up the university with its heavy slant in sports. He lamented that the likes of Fashanu and other sports talents are not regarded in Nigeria. “We have the raw talents, with characters, Nwoko said.
He pointed out that the Stars’ University is not just going to be a sports university, “we are also going to ensure that other disciplines are studied as well. But my passion is sports.’
Nwoko explained that the peculiarity in Stars University is that students while doing sports will also do any other discipline in their academic studies. He said as a student in London, he was interested in studying law and also interested in studying history. And so he chose to attend a university that provided him the leverage to study both law and history at the same time for his combined honours degree course. “So, in Stars University you can do law and sports as combined honours degree, or sports and any other discipline of one’s choice.”
While breaking down the full meaning of STARS as Sports, Technology, Arts, Research and Science, Ned Nwoko said there is need for us to do things differently, and it begins with Nigerians changing the way we do things. He then called for support for the project.
Mr. Fashanu was full of praises for Ned Nwoko who he described as “the boss of bosses, a giver with passion to help people,” also commended him for the initiative in making the proposed Stars’ University to be sports compliant. “We are here for strong support for him,” Fashanu said as he called on the people to give Ned Nwoko the necessary support to actualise his senatorial ambition so as to continue his track record of good works to the community.
In her speech, Chioma Ajunwa who recalled knowing Prince Ned Nwoko way back in the United Kingdom, said he is a man with great passion for Nigeria.
“We know that most politicians take Nigeria’s money out of the country to invest, but Ned said ‘No, I am going to invest my money in Nigeria,” Ajunwa said, adding: “I want you to support him in this community. This university will employ many persons from this community, please support it.”
The university is billed to begin its academic sessions by September this year.