Chukwuma Odumegwu Ojukwu University(COOU)
Anambra State University of Science and Technology, (as it was then called) was established by law No. 13 of 2000 by the Anambra State Government. The University was conceived a 2-Campus structure with the main campus of the University located at Uli in the former site of the Ekwenugo Okeke Polytechnic, formally called Anambra state Polytechnic and the second campus located at Igbariam in the former site of the College of Agriculture. The law establishing the University phased out the State Polytechnic and the University inherited its assets and liabilities. On the other hand, the University law failed to repeal the Edict establishing the College of Agriculture, Igbariam, hence, legally, the University and the College existed side by side at the Igbariam Campus site, until 2006 when the government relocated the College of Agriculture to Mgbakwu, about fifteen kilometers away from Igbariam.
By the Anambra State University Amendment Law No. ANHA/LAW/2006/01 of 26th January, 2006, the name of the University was changed to Anambra State University in keeping with the Visitation Report of 2004 recommendation that the University should revert to a conventional University. The Amendment Law of 2006 provided for a 3 – Campus structure for the University comprising:
- Uli Campus
(i) Faculty of Engineering
(ii) Faculty of Environmental Sciences
(iii) Faculty of Science
(iv) Pre-Science Programme
- Igbariam Campus
(i) Faculty of Agriculture
(ii) Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
- Alor Campus
(i) Faculty of Law
(ii) Faculty of Management Sciences
(iii) College of Health Sciences
(iv) University Teaching Hospital
The 2006 Amendment Law also provided that Alor Campus would house the University Administrative Headquarters because of its centrality to the other Campuses. However, Alor Campus did not take off, even though the enabling law prescribed its establishment. Meanwhile, the two Faculties of Law and Management Sciences are located at Igbariam Campus of the University. However, in 2010 the College of Medicine and Teaching Hospital being constructed at Amaku General Hospital, Awka received legal backing as the state House of Assembly passed an amendment act to situate a third campus of the University a three campus structure at Uli (Anambra South), Awka (Anambra Central) and Igbariam (Anambra North).
The University Pre-Science Programme, which in 2008, was relocated to Uli Campus, is waxing stronger. So also is the Part-Time/Weekend Degree Programme at the Igbariam Campus.
The University shall commence new programmes in the following areas in next academic year:
Music, Philosophy and Religion / Society in the faculty of Arts.
Sociology and Psychology in the faculty of Social Sciences.
Urban and Regional Planning in the faculty of Environmental Sciences.
Towards this end, Senate has approved the de-merging of faculty of Environmental Sciences from the faculty of Engineering at Uli Campus and the de-merging of faculty of Arts from faculty of Social Sciences at Igbariam Campus.
It is noteworthy that this University is one of the institutions, the Nigerian Security and Exchange Commission is assisting in the establishment of the programme in Capital Market Studies. This programme is being housed in the Faculty of Management Sciences at the Igbariam Campus.
It is pertinent to point out that programmes in Medicine (i.e. Pre-Med. and Pre-Clinical), based at Uli Campus, commenced in 2008/2009 academic year. The National Universities Commission visited these medical programmes on resource verification in 2011 and the results were favourable and successful.
With respect to the Clinical Programmes of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery based at Awka using the structures and facilities of the former Amaku-General Hospital, the Government of Anambra State has just constructed multi-million naira physical structures to accommodate the Clinical Programmes of the Medical School as well as its Teaching Hospital Professional bodies accreditation
The University has not fared badly in the professional bodies’ accreditation visits. So far, it had received full and interim accreditation from the following professional bodies.
Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN); with respect to Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering (full accreditation), while Chemical Engineering and Electrical Engineering received interim accreditation.
Council of Legal Education; in respect of the University’s Law programmes (interim accreditation). Another accreditation visit by Council of Legal Education is slated for 15th-17th November, 2009.
Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN); in respect of the Accountancy programmes (full accreditation).
Council for the Regulation of Practice of Geology; granted interim accreditation status to the University’s Geology Programmes.
Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA); granted interim accreditation status to the Architecture programme after the Institute’s visit in July, 2008.
