IMSU Will Digitise Laboratories, Says VC

The Vice-Chancellor of the Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, Prof. Uchefuna Chukwumaeze, has expressed the institution’s determination to digitise all laboratories in all its faculties, in line with the demands of the digital age, appealing to philanthropic bodies and citizens to contribute to the growth of the institution in that direction.

Chukwumaeze disclosed this when he took delivery of 20 brand new laptops worth N6 million donated to the university by members of a non-profit making body, Zenith Environmental and Social Protection Network (ZESPRONET), led by the National President, Bidwell Okere; the Deputy National President, George Ukaegbu, among others.

The body, comprising alumni of the old Imo State University, Okigwe, now Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), had supported ABSU in building hostels, environmental beautification, and institution of prize awards to encouraging and rewarding excellence, among others, in their alma mater, extending their social corporate responsibility gesture to IMSU as a humanitarian support to the tertiary institution as an offshoot of ABSU.

Chukwumaeze recalled that he was pleased with the body after he had appealed to them to assist the institution in its drive to digitise all the laboratories of all the faculties to meet the rest of the time. 

According to the vice-chancellor, also an alumnus of ABSU, he chose laptops instead of building structures and sinking bore holes in the institution.

He said: “This is purely on humanitarian grounds. We all share in humanity. Education is a social service to humanity. They (the donors) could have selected other institutions, but they chose Imo State University, Owerri. They have built a hostel in ABSU, planted trees, and donated computers and books. The relationship made them remember us. This is the highest laptop donation we have ever received in our PG institution.” 

Presenting the items, Okere noted that the zeal to donate the items aligned with the desire to support the vice-chancellor to put the institution on a higher information technology pedestal.

Ukaegbu noted that it was tailored towards encouraging academic excellence in the digital age of information technology communication.