By PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

THE role of education as catalyst for building a prosperous, crime-free and healthy economy cannot be over-emphasised. To Innoson Group of Companies boss, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, education is the bedrock of economic growth and development. According to him a country with high population of educated youths would have an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, attract foreign direct investments, create job opportunities and ultimately create wealth.

“When you educate the youths, you keep them out of crime because they are less vulnerable to indulge in criminal activities. You equip them with the right skills and knowledge such that even in the face of unemployment, they can create jobs themselves,” he told Thisday in a phone interview.

This conviction explains Dr. Chukwuma’s focus on education in his Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities where he invests millions of naira on school projects aimed towards uplifting the quality of education by creating an enabling environment for teaching and learning to thrive across institutions of learning in Nigeria.

Chukwuma whose company, Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing (IVM), manufactures the only truly Nigerian auto brand, at a well attended colourful ceremony held at Enugu campus of University of Nigeria (UNEC) donated a classroom block to the Business Administration Department of the institution.

The donation was coming on the heels of a N35 million worth of school building donated to Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) in May this year.

The hand-over ceremony attracted dignitaries from the institution including the Vice- Chancellor, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ifeoma Enemuo, Dean Faculty of Business Administration Prof. Justice Nnabuko, Prof. J.U.J Onwumere, Prof. Uche Modum, Prof. Julius Onah, Prof. U.J Ewulum, Prof. Regina Okafor, Prof. John Ezeh among many others.