The Honourable Mayor of Umunneochi Local Government Council of Abia State, Chief Sunny Afurobi, has reiterated his commitment to collaboration and development, and expressed his respect for the Catholic Church while highlighting his personal connection to its teachings through his wife, a devout Catholic.
The Mayor who expressed the commitment while welcoming the management team of Spiritan University Nneochi on a courtesy visit to him in his office at Nkwoagu Isuochi, commended their contributions to education and community development.
Addressing the visiting team, Mayor Afurobi shared his vision for Umunneochi, emphasizing the need for collective efforts in advancing education, youth empowerment, and infrastructural development.
He highlighted his plans to engage and employ youths in the local government through Nollywood film production, partnerships with the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN (Umunneochi chapter), and skill acquisition programmes aimed at equipping young people with tools and resources to establish businesses.
Additionally, he outlined his initiative to support widows with small-scale business funding and to enhance the welfare of the local government staff through improved infrastructure, including water supply and sanitation facilities.
Responding to the university’s concerns about electricity supply, the Mayor assured the delegation that consultations would be made with engineers to ensure that the institution and the Nneato community are energized in the near future, and further pledged to promote Spiritan University by advocating for its programmes and supporting its initiatives.
The Spiritan University team on the visit included the Vice Chancellor, Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Remy N. Onyewuenyi C.S.S.P; Rev. Fr. Dr. Obiefuna Jerome Onwughalu C.S.S.P, University Registrar; Rev. Fr. Martin Okafor-Ilozue C.S.S.P, Dean of Student Affairs; High Chief C.C. Olimah, Dean, Faculty of Natural Sciences and the University’s Public Relations Officer; and Dr. Otitochukwu Odoemenam, Head of Department of Political Science & Director of JUPEB Programme.
In his speech, the Vice Chancellor, Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Remy N. Onyewuenyi C.S.S.P, who expressed the school’s appreciation to the Mayor for his developmental strides, acknowledged the Mayor’s efforts in restoring electricity to Umunneochi and appealed for the university’s inclusion in the electrification project, noting that power supply remains a significant challenge for the institution.
He also highlighted the university’s academic progress, stating that Spiritan University, approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in December 2014, commenced operations in 2018 with fifteen programmes and has since expanded to eighteen, including a Faculty of Law.
Prof. Onyewuenyi emphasized the university’s commitment to collaborating with the host community, ensuring a 20% employment quota for local residents, and maintaining strong ties in the areas of education and development.
He praised the efforts of the Mayor, his predecessor, and the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, for improving security in Umunneochi, which has created a safe and conducive environment for learning and community activities, and assured the Mayor of the university’s support for his administration and looked forward to hosting him on an official visit to the institution.
High Chief C.C. Olimah, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Public Relations Officer of the university, lauded the Mayor’s achievements, describing his impact as remarkable and historically significant in Umunneochi, and emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration between the university and the local government.
In his remarks, Rev. Fr. Dr. Jerome Onwughalu, the University Registrar, expressed admiration for the Mayor’s dedication to community development, referring to him as an “uncommon Mayor.”
He assured the Mayor of the university’s willingness to work with him, particularly in agricultural initiatives such as piggery farming, to create employment opportunities and enhance food production, and concluded with prayers for the Mayor’s continued success and prosperity in his leadership endeavours.
The visit marked a significant step toward strengthening the partnership between Spiritan University Nneochi and the Umunneochi Local Government Council, reinforcing mutual commitments to educational advancement, infrastructural development, and community empowerment.
