WORK IN PROGRESS AT NED’S SPORTS UNIVERSITY, IDUMUJE UGBOKO

Academic activities at the STARS University, Idumuje Ugboko, in Aniocha north local government area, will commence in the 2019/2020 academic session beginning in September, 2019.

The founder and sole financier of the University, Honourable Ned Nwoko, who disclosed this while inspecting work on the project site, directed the contractor handling the development of infrastructure in the 
University to increase the pace of work to get the institution ready for the first batch of students.

Honourable Nwoko, a prince of the Idumuje Ugboko royal family, who spoke through his aide, Aihaji Mohammed Bologi, said the University, which is to offer courses in Sports, Technology, Arts, Research and the Sciences, codenamed STARS, was the first of its kind in Africa, adding that the aim of establishing the institution was to make a difference in University education in Nigeria.

He said a Project Monitoring Team was in place to ensure that facilities in the University were of international standard and in accordance with the National Universities Commission, NUC specifications, stressing that nothing short of the best would be found in the University.

Honourable Nwoko, who was awarded a Doctorate degree on Saturday by the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, FUPRE, Effurun, where he announced a package of N1m
for each of the 20 First Class graduates of the institution, said the initial budget for the STARS University project was N10bn, but added that the cost could varry depending on the dictates of the economy.

The billionaire politician said funding for the project was not a problem, explaining that the institution would be sitting on over 500 hectares of land, with six standard football pitches, a gulf course, among other international sports facilities for the production of quality graduates in sports related fields.

He commended the Idumuje Ugboko community, particularly the immediate past traditional ruler, for making land available for the project which he said would be of immense benefit to the community, the Aniocha north local government area, the state and the country at large.

The projects inspected by the former House of Representatives member include the almost completed Ultra Modern Administrative Complex, lecture halls, hostels and junior staff quarters.