For the love of alma mater, Dr Boris Chukwuemeka Oji, along with his allies, has facilitated the building of an ultra-modern post-graduate hostel, which they recently donated to the Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU).
The 44 bedroom project was undertaken under the auspices of Zenith Family Environmental and Social Protection Network (ZESPRONET), a non-governmental organization birthed by Dr Oji and his fellow alumni of the institution.
They pooled not less than N80 million to build the hostel, which was unveiled on November 12 by Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.
Oji first conceived the idea of the project in 2019 when his alma mater honoured him with a doctorate degree. Subsequently, he set out to raise the required funds with the help of family and friends.
All the rooms in the hostel are en-suite, with TV viewing and games rooms, completed and delivered within 15 months, despite the setback occasioned by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Ikpeazu, at the unveiling, commended the philanthropists behind ZESPRONET for their spirit of giving back to their alma mater, urging other members of ABSU Alumni Association to emulate their kind gesture.
Represented at the event by the National President Sir Bidwell Okere, the International President of ZESPRONET, Dr. Oji promised that the group would do more for the institution.
He, however, said the hostel will be under the management of ABSU, appealing for its proper maintenance.
Oji said: “Aside from altruistic reasons, the purpose of the hostel is to encourage others to do the same. I am a firm believer in public education.”
How does his community, Arochukwu, benefit from the project?
Dr. Oji, the first son of Rev Prince Joshua Oji of Oror village, Arochukwu, said: “I know that one or two students from Arochukwu will spend time in that hostel, and when they realize that an Aro man contributed to its existence, they will also strive to make positive contributions to Arochukwu and the society in general.”
Elsewhere, a similar project would be named in honour of the facilitator.
But Oji is not cut for self-adulation.
“Self promotion was not the purpose. ZESPRONET is the entity I wanted to project because of what it stands for, and what I want to accomplish through it,” he said.
However, he said: “Inside the building are names of some of my forebears.”
For instance, there are: Rev Prince Joshua TV room; Elder Mrs. Doris Oji, PhD (Former President General of Nzuko Aro Women’s wing), games room; HRH Eze Kanu Oji ( former Eze Aro), hallway; Elder Mrs. Mary Kanu Oji (wife of former Eze Aro, Kanu Oji), hallway and Elder Emmanuel Oti ( first indigenous superitendent of schools in the old Calabar region/ pioneer Christian in Arochukwu) hallway, Elder Mrs. Oti ( wife of Elder Emmanuel Oti, she alongside her husband, fought against the killing of twins in Aro and Calabar region and female marginalization in education,) hallway.
Others are Elder Mrs. Esther Oti hallway; Mazi Okorafor Kanu Oji hallway and Mrs. Peace Uwakwe hallway (his auntie and first Secretary-General of Nzuko Aro women’s wing).
According to Oji: “They are all immortalized on the walls of those buildings forever, by the special grace of God.
“One is hoping that as our people gain from this type of project, the government will note the deficiencies in their funding of public institutions, and encourage others to do the same.Also, the students that use the facilities will be geared towards believing once again in the dignity of man, and that there are still good people out there.”
He continued: “With regards to Arochukwu, we can also learn that you can improve the lot of your people just like that, not borne out of political ambition or chieftaincy title rewards, but to make Arochukwu a better place than we met it.
“For me, I have plans to positively impact Arochukwu, but will only share that once conceptualization is completed and implementation started.
Oji has a Doctor of Optometry (O.D) from the Abia State University, Uturu before proceeding to the United States of America where he studied Medicine..
A winner of several awards, Oji is currently practicing medicine at Hospitalist and Chief of Medicine at Banner Delweb Hospital, Phoenix AZ United States of America.
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