The Federal University, Otuoke, in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa state, Southern Nigeria is the biggest achievement of former President Goodluck Jonathan for his community.
The university was established in 2011. The community is the country home of Jonathan. At inception, it had 282 students.
Six years down the lane in 2017, the university has grown in leaps and bounds. Our reporter, who toured the community for three days, reports that the university now has not less than 5000 students studying different degree courses.
Students of the university constitute the highest population of people in the community. Their presence has boosted the economy of the place, giving life to the quiet village.
Federal University, Otuoke
Businesses are springing up daily along the road to the university as students are helping to boost the business and the people have not failed to capitalize on that to establish centres to cater for the needs of the students.
Bookshops, computer centres and others are visible sights along the road to the campus.
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When students are in session, the community bubbles as it is more of a student population.
President of the Student Union Government (SUG), Comrade Stephen Akariwa, told ZENITHBLOG.com that students have contributed immensely to the growth of the former president’s village.
Akariwa, a final year Biochemistry student, said students have not had issues with the university management, noting that the management sees them as their children while they see management staff as parents, hence there is a cordial relationship between them.
Federal University, Otuoke
On issues of cultism which is a serious challenge on most campuses, he said the university authority has zero tolerance to cultism.
“At Federal University, Otuoke, management has zero tolerance for cultism. We don’t condone them here. I can’t tell you explicitly that there is no cultism but we’ve brought them very low that they don’t show their presence.
“We checkmate their activities within the campus and outside the campus. We work with community development committee chairman and other security outfits in the community. Before any issue rises, we call the attention of the security agents,”
On what the university has actually contributed to the community, Akariwa said the university has contributed much to the growth of the community.
“80 percent of people in the community are students. Their presence has helped in improving the social life of the environment. The university has also increased the population of the community.
Inside the Federal University, Otuoke
“For those doing business, the school has helped their businesses to grow. We go out to organize entrepreneurship programmes for primary and secondary school students. This has, in many ways, helped the secondary school students in Otuoke,” the SUG president said.
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From investigation around the community, the only challenge confronting the students is that of electricity and water. It was learnt that for over two years, the university has not seen power supply from the national grid.
It was gathered that students living in the off campus find it difficult getting good water for use.
Accommodation is also said to be very expensive in Otuoke and the surrounding communities. In that case, it was observed that three to four students combine effort to rent an apartment where there is water and a good generating set.
Road leading to the university
Findings also indicate that for self-contain, the cost goes as high as N140,000, N120,000, N110,000 or N100,000 depending on the nature of the building and the location within Otuoke and the adjourning communities.
But it was learnt that the students union government has actually mediated between the students and the landlords so as to cut down the cost of accommodation for the students.
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