Akwa Ibom State Governor Mr Udom Emmanuel has assured the Governing Council of University of Uyo of the state government’s readiness to construct two new hostels in the campus to ease the accommodation problem confronting students of the institution.

Governor Emmanuel gave the assurance in his office when he played host to the Chairman of the Governing Council and Pro Chancellor of the institution, Professor. Kimse A.B.Okolo who was accompanied by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Enefiok Essien and other members of the Governing Council.

He announced that the hostel project has been included in next year’s budget for implementation and that the ecological challenges threatening the university environment would be given priority attention in the World Bank and Federal Ministry of Environment intervention programmes.

Governor Emmanuel explained that due to the economic downturn, the state does not have adequate funds to intervene in the erosion menace plaguing some parts of the state and directed the Commissioner for Works, Mr Ephraim Inyang to follow up on the design and execution of the dual carriage way promised the university during the last convocation.

On the construction of Engineering Block by Exxon Mobil, Governor Emmanuel said that negotiation was on course with the multinational company and expressed optimism that as a responsible corporate citizen, the firm would not renege on its pledge.

He, however, drew the Council’s attention to the downward trend in the oil industry and appealed to the Council to allow the state government negotiate on its behalf with the management of the company on the project.

Governor Emmanuel who frowned at encroachment on the land belonging to the institution explained that decisive steps have been taken to forestall such acts and informed the university that its annex campus being the former School of Arts And Science as indicated in the master plan belongs to the state government and sued for its return.

Governor Emmanuel commended the university for upholding high academic standards and pledged to partner the institution in its development strides.

Earlier, Professor Kimse Okolo lauded the giant strides recorded by the Udom Emmanuel led administration and solicited inclusion of the university in its development programmes.

The Pro Chancellor congratulated Governor Emmanuel on his attainment of the Golden Age and presented a birthday card on behalf of the Council to him.