12 Ojukwu varsity students died in road crashes in 10 months – VC

The acting Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra, Prof. Kate Omenugha, has disclosed that 12 students of the institution died in road accidents in the past 10 months.

Omenugha said the deaths occurred as a result of a lack of residential hostels and school buses, which made students transport through neighbouring communities using tricycles and motorcycles.

She stated this during the third Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Memorial Lecture series held at the university’s ETF Auditorium, on Friday.

According to her, these tragedies have sparked concerns by the university about students’ safety and the need for urgent intervention to prevent further tragedies.

She attributed the incidents to the lack of residential hostels and school buses, which caused students to commute through neighbouring communities using tricycles and motorcycles.

She said, “I feel terrified as a mother about this incident. Since I assumed office 10 months ago, about 12 students have lost their lives through tricycle and motorcycle accidents along inter-community roads linking to the university.

“We appealed for assistance from the public, particularly well-to-do individuals in Anambra State, to support the university’s development.

“We need hostels to cut the rising spate of avoidable accidents. We need staff quarters for staff. There are many areas for partnership.”

She commended the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s efforts through the Private Public Community Partnership initiative, stressing that the state government cannot tackle the challenges alone.

The guest lecturer at the event, a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, presented an address with the theme, “Harnessing education for national development: Lessons from the life and vision of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.”

In November 2020, the management of the institution threatened to ban its students from using motorcycles as a means of transport.

This followed the death of three female students at the Igbariam campus of the university in three separate motorcycle accidents between Friday and Sunday.

One of the deceased was said to be a final-year student.