Pro Chancellor/ Chairman Governing council  of Imo State University (IMSU) , Prince Alex Mbata has declared that his desire is to see the university become one of the best in the country.

Mbata who was last year appointed the university’s pro chancellor by Rochas okorocha who is the visitor to the university in an interactive session with media men in Lagos said he can not afford to fail as the job is a litmus test for him as a young entrepreneur.

Gov Okorocha of Imo State

Excerpts:

What are your plans for the varsity after your appointment as its pro chancellor cum council chairman?

Mbata:  let me start by saying that my vision is to take the university to the next level. I’m, by his grace, a very successful entrepreneur. Whatever I touch becomes gold and this is courtesy of God’s grace and now that I m involved in the state university , I will do my best to ensure that it becomes one of the best in the country.

You know many employers don’t want to engage graduates of state universities, but IMSU will be different. You know the governor is passionate about education and with his support we will make IMSU a real citadel of learning. I have held meetings with the authorities of the university and we are going to ensure that the problems of the university are solved.

So far, what have you identified as the major problems of the university?

Mbata: As you know the university is a young one when compared with the first generation universities like UNN , ABU and UI. So it would understandably  have the problem of infrastructure, that of hostels to accommodate the students etc. But the state government is doing all it can to change all that. The governor deserves a pat on the back over what he has done for the University’s Teaching Hospital in Orlu. A lot more will be done to the other programs of the university. My vision is for the university to have world class facilities and we are on the same page with the governor on this.

What is your view on the governor’s free education policy. It has received a lot of bashing with some of his political opponents saying it is not working?

Mbata: You need to go to Imo state and ask the people if it is working or not. It is not enough for some people to stay in Lagos and throw stones instead of commending the good job Owelle is doing.

The truth is that Imo has never had it so good not just in education but also on all fronts. But if there is any area the governor has scored close to 100 percent, it is in education. His free education program alone is enough to give him second term in office. Students in the state primary and secondary schools are not just going to school free but getting stipends and things like uniform and sandals.

The people of Imo are no fools , they know a government that has done well and would do everything to ensure continuity with their votes. Education is the biggest industry in Imo state and Owelle’s government has invested heavily in that area and as I said earlier that alone is enough to bring him back to Douglas House.

In fact as things stand now there is no vacancy there. Outside education, the governor has equally done well. For the first time since after Mbakwe, we are having a government that is developing every part of the state simultaneously. Go to Orlu, Okigwe , Uguta, the story is the same.

So why wont such a governor get a second term?. What Imo people should rather be praying for is for the governor to keep doing what he has started when he returns. His rescue mission agenda must continue. Imo cant afford to return to the land of Egypt when we are on the march to the promised land.

Can we get to know you better?

Mbata: Well, I m the CEO of AMB Global group of companies which has interest in Oil and Gas, real estate, manufacturing and hospitality industry. Ours is a fast growing outfit with corporate headquarters in Lagos. We are investing heavily in Imo state in line with the appeal made by the state government for the state industrialists to come home and invest. ABM now has one of the biggest industries in Imo state and we have only done the first phase of the industry.

My vision is to employ as many Imo youths as people as a way of reducing unemployment in the state. If that is done the crime rate in the state will reduce and let me also give the governor a pat on the back in the area of security because he has done a lot in that area.