Accepting the appointment announced and as a show of
commitment, he doled out N500 million to support the development of the
university.
Peaceland University, Enugu was among the 37 new
universities approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) last week, three
years after the promoters, planning and implementation committee of the
university approached National Universities Commission (NUC) for a possible
establishment of a university.
The university authorities, yesterday, said the choice of
their would-be pioneer pro-chancellor was a fruit of prayer and hard search,
adding that, “for several years, we searched for a man or a woman whose spirit
shares with Mama Pia’s spirit that cuts across human race, colour, etc., and
whose giving goes beyond the shores of a nation.”
Addressing newsmen in Enugu, the Public Relations Officer of
the institution, Ihemegbunem Okafor, said the university was an offspring
of the Peaceland project founded and
funded by a Swiss mother, lover of education, Frau Pia Meier Knuesel (a.k.a.
Mama Pia), adding that Eze shares much in common with the woman.
He said: “Eze, a pillar and promoter of academic
emancipation through quality education, a philanthropist of the highest order,
a consummated oil magnate, humanitarian par excellence, global business guru of
inter-continental connectivity, became the best choice for this prestigious
position. He is indubitably and unarguably one of Nigeria’s foremost
philanthropists who has provided, solidly supported and single-handedly
undertaken ventures that touch human livesand put smiles on faces of both the
high and the low.
“His magnanimity and generosity cut across ethnic and
religious lines, classes, climes and creeds.
There is hardly any area this great man has not beamed his light of
benevolence. They include institutions of learning of all levels, rural
development and infrastructure, human capital development, women and youth
empowerment, church buildings, projects and programmes executions, etc.”
“In his usual magnanimity, this simple and humble man of
charity, an apostle and prince of immense grace, lover of development and
progress, practical Christian and peace builder, acknowledged his appointment
as the pro-chancellor of Peaceland University, Enugu and announced his support
of the university, with a great sum of N5 million.”
He expressed the gratitude of the institution to Eze and
assured the public the university would be one of the universities to reckon
with in the country in the shortest possible time.