... As Nnamdi Azikiwe's family laments the embarrassment
NSUKKA---- The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, is yet to begin the renovation of the 21 Ziks Flats and bungalows which have been in a terrible state of dilapidation, even as the university grapples with acute accommodation problems.
Ziks Flats were acquired from the founder of UNN and first President of Nigeria, late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.
The Ziks Flats were given to the university for a token by late Azikiwe, to solve the unending problems of accommodation of students. The place used to be a bee- hive of activities until about 17 years ago, when subsequent vice chancellors failed to carry out minor repairs on the flats or the facilities, forcing the students out of the massive estate, opposite the Franco Hostels, which are also, in a very serious state of dilapidations.
In an interview with reporters in October last year, Zik's wife, Prof. Emeritus, Uche Azikiwe, lamented the failure of past administration's of the UNN to renovate the buildings, describing the development as serious embarrassment to the former first family.
Uche stressed that the Nnamdi Azikiwe's family was not in any legal battle with the UNN, over the control of Zik's Flat, adding that reports of the alleged legal impasse with UNN over control of Zik's Flat as being spread in social media existed in the figments of imagination of mischief makers.
Describing the allegation as fake news, Mrs Azikiwe said that her heart bleeds each time she sees the level of dillapidation at the facility.
"The family of my late husband didn't go to court with UNN over control of Zik's Flat. The story has been trending and we are bothered about the bad name it is bringing to the family. Anybody that claims we sued UNN over the facility should provide the case number to us because I know we are not in court with UNN.
"The documents which my late husband used to transfer the 21 block of flats and some bungalows are here with us. This is just fake news.
"If there is any case, let the Vice Chancellor invite the family of late Nnamdi Azikiwe and we will come and defend ourselves. This is just a rumour to tarnish the image of our family and we are not happy about it. It was during the time of Prof. Frank Nwachukwu Ndili that my late husband handed the facility over to UNN," she said.
She further expressed displeasure that successive administrations of UNN allowed such monumental infrastructure to waste when the institution was facing acute accomodation problems, adding that her late husband gave out the blocks of flat to the school as part of his social welfare to the university.
Mrs Azikiwe said that since the university was not capable of maintaining the structures, it should be given back to Zik's family to rehabilitate, manage and transfer back to the institution to save the family the bad name it is giving to a social activist in the mould of the former president.
According vto her, "It is a disservice to the name of my husband to be associated with the rot the flats have become. Onuiyi Haven shares a common fence with the flats. I miss the hustle and bustle and warmth of students presence in the facility."
She added that the family had approached the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba for a possible takeover and renovation but nothing positive came out of it, noting that they would continue to explore every possible avenue to ensure the rehabilitation and proper utilization of the flats.
In his reaction, the Director of Legal Services, UNN, Mr Matthew Obayi, said he had no knowledge of any legal tussle with Zik's family over the facility handed to the institution by late Nnamdi Azikiwe. He urged the public to disregard any information saying that Zik's family is in court with UNN over the will of the flats.
Also, in view of the hotel crisis the university is facing, the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Edwin Omeje, asked good spirited individuals to rehabilitate the dillapidated hostels in the university under contractual agreement of "Build, Operate and Transfer, BOT.
Prof. Omeje also told reporters that the university has entered into a contract with a company (name withheld) building over 12,000 bed space hostels within the university to address accommodation problems occasioned by increasing students population.
Speaking about the abandoned Zik's Flat, the Prof. Omeje, said the university in her wisdom moved students out of the facility due to the level of its dilapidation, pointing out that the institution was looking for a contractor to renovate the hostels under BOT.
