From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Former president of Liberia, Sirleaf Johnson has been appointed as chairman of the governing council of the Eastern Palm University, Ogboko in Imo State.
Former governor of Imo State and President of the Rochas Foundation College of Africa, disclosed this at the 3rd matriculation ceremony of the institution on Monday just as he assured that the citadel of learning will be a centre of excellence.
Okorocha has also maintained that the Eastern palm university was not established for profit making, but to provide knowledge for children from less-privileged families across African nations, adding that, he has nothing else to achieve in life than to see that most Children do not miss education because of the circumstances of their births.
He revealed that the University was established under the Private Public Partnership (PPP), with Rochas Foundation and Imo State Government involved, explianing that while Rochas Foundation has ninety percent in the arrangement, Imo State Government has ten percent.
Senator Okorocha stated that, he has remained an ardent advocate of the PPP arrangement in the establishment of Universities, because according to him, it would enable universities skip certain Challenges, adding that the State Government also has the option of selling off its ten percent to Rochas Foundation so that the foundation can have one hundred percent ownership of the Institution.
“My prayer has been that education should be made affordable if not totally free, so that the Children of the have not can also have the opportunity of going to School.
“That was the idea behind my establishing the Rochas Foundation Colleges in about Sixteen States in the Country. And today, we have Rochas Foundation College for Africa. And we have more than twenty-five students in all these Colleges.
“And we have in our record about Six Thousand graduates the Foundation had sponsored to graduate across the Universities in the Country. So, the Eastern Palm University will help a lot in this regard. Okorocha asserted.
“I am ready to sell my clothes to ensure that Children who would not have gone to School as a result of the circumstances of their births, would go to School. That is the major reason Eastern Palm University was established. And if the Imo State Government can take over the University and do what I am doing here, it will be accepted by me. Okorocha stated.
