The nigerian ecosystem received a bigger competitive vibe as one of the universities based in the south east is about to produce Aircrafts.

On plans to have aircraft manufac­turing platform in the institution’s faculty of engineering, Chief Greg Ibe, Chancellor Gregory Univer­sity (GREGU) said the uni­versity is eager to teach stu­dents the practical ways to produce aircraft.

His words: “I have a vision to manufacture some level of aircraft, and the body of an aircraft is made of fibres. The fibre glass system has gone a long way in helping engi­neering designs. So I got to 3M, a US company, they pro­duce what they use for the fi­bre glass for the aircraft. We have started our mould with our fibre glass trainers. What­ever mould we have, we cast it and it comes on fibre glass.”

Ibe stated that, in addition to other courses approved by the National Universi­ties Commission (NUC) for the university, Law, Petro-Chemical Engineering and Computer Engineering have just been added as full time courses, adding that the insti­tution also runs a functional media house.

“We have Orbit TV on Channel 130, Startimes and we also have our FM station coming on. We use the chan­nel and the FM as a training platform for our students in theatre arts and mass com­munications. The FM is a community station for the university.

The Chancellor also bared his mind on the reason for es­tablishing the private institu­tion: “The University was li­censed in February 2012. We just graduated our first set of scholars this year. Clearly, bringing children from their various homes to this place means that I am challenged that the child comes out su­per, good, with new skills, ability to resolve challenges, ability to close all gaps where they exist, and ability to chal­lenge oneself towards being a problem-solving individual. So what I do here is to blend education with practicality.

“We have a research cen­tre, so if you are studying anything on sciences, in the research centre you will be recruited as an intern in that particular section with all the researchers coming. The Entrepreneurship Cen­tre is great, I am the lectur­er there. I teach everybody in year two. I also teach attitudi­nal change, that’s where I tell them that in this world, your talent is extremely important. If you want to achieve, you need your talent plus prep­aration. That’s the definition of achievement. I am there with them to refocus them in their various fields, and also in making sure that they as­sert themselves here before they leave this institution.

“So I offer them all that they can. We have the Uni­versity printing press, where marketers will be engaged in marketing, policy makers will be engaged in making poli­cies for what guides the press, if you read accounting, you will be able to maintain the books there, and learn more. Then comes the mechanical, electrical. All of them are there to learn on the site.”

The businessman-cum ed­ucationist also explained how the school has grown from the only private university in Abia and Imo States to be among the best in Nigeria.

“We started with three colleges. This is because the NUC will approve only three colleges for a start; humani­ties, applied science and so­cial and management scienc­es. But because our focus is on science and technology, we decided to aggressively deploy all we had while pur­suing official approval for these other courses.

“Then we started with Medical Biochemistry, Phys­iology and one other course in the medical. Thereafter, af­ter one year plus, we got Med­icine approved, and because those courses go together, and because we had built a specialist hospital before the university, whatever that re­quires the services of a med­ical college, we already had the equipment on ground. So it became easy, and we adopt­ed all the medical scienc­es. The only thing we didn’t have at the time was a teach­ing hospital, and we were us­ing the Abia State Teaching Hospital as our teaching hos­pital. The Government gra­ciously approved that for us. But right now, we are doing our own teaching hospital. Everything is ready, in terms of equipment and finishing. We are going to make sure we have the very best in terms of tertiary health.

“When we finished with the medical sciences, we con­tinued with the Engineering- we have Mechanical, Elec­trical, Quantity Surveying, Surveying, Informatics, Civ­il, Geology, and then today, we have full complements since we have added Petrole­um, Chemical and Comput­er Engineering. We also have a very large welding and fab­rications centre. We are go­ing into metallurgy, and our furnaces are coming into Ni­geria. Our electroplating ma­chines are coming and our tools are there. So we want to get to prepare moulds, use our ingots from melted iron, and then use them to produce something and also electroplate it.”

Good good.... I have believe in you. But will Nigeria be bold enuf to want to fly it? I Leave the rest to others

They're four gifted race on earth. The Germans, Japanese, jews and the Igbos. Thomas Sowell.

lols aircraft what or airwitch? please the dream is good but start with a car....
aircraft is not a 3bed room flat. Seriously which of the two below

The great Igbo race at it again. Tomorrow some haters will be dragging feet with Igbos as if Igbos are their mate. Before you drag feet with Igbos and doubt their abilities, go and find out who was behind the first Nigerian Air Force dr$one, I'll tell you...world renowned Professor Emmanuel Ezegwu.

Haters are always going to hate out of envy. The guy above is a yorubaaa.

Let them start with drones. Solar powered drones is good. It can monitor pipelines, criminals, and alot more.

I think this man knows what he wants and is already working towards it. The issue with most mechanical inventions in Nigeria is their ridiculous shape and material so when I read "mould, fiberglass" then I knew he's out to work.

Been grounded in R&D and going into partnership is cool too. I don't expect overnight political magic but in time something beautiful will be produced locally.

Choice of engineering material and components is key to any mechanical production.

This is good to hear. It is a great step. Overseas even individuals build their own crafts either for research or recreation and I think it is one of the best things to happen to us if a university now wants to take up the challenge here.

I pledge to give you every support necessary sir to actualize this objective.

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A Will Soon park jarlopy trucks\

Meanwhile, lousy lot are waiting for the day Hausa /Fulani Janjaweeeed hiding behind Nigeria army kill off southsouth people to enable the lousy lot driNK crude oil in the Nigerdelta.

Amah70:
Meanwhile, lousy lot are waiting for the day Hausa /Fulani Janjaweeeed hiding behind Nigeria army kill off southsouth people to enable the lousy lot driNK crude oil in the Nigerdelta.

No mind afonja...you will see them in Niger Delta threads saying "kill them all".

Present, the university no get name? Hmmm......

Igbos we are great people. It is our blood to be great.

coolzeal:
They're four gifted race on earth. The Germans, Japanese, jews and the Igbos. Thomas Sowell.

Igbos? Why? Flat heads have nothing to offer.

Amah70:
Meanwhile, lousy lot are waiting for the day Hausa /Fulani Janjaweeeed hiding behind Nigeria army kill off southsouth people to enable the lousy lot driNK crude oil in the Nigerdelta.

I pity you.

lastmessenger:
Igbos we are great people. It is our blood to be great.

great? Stop deceiving yourself.

Can't we just leave hate alone? Must we drag tribalism into anything good just to distroy it..... Gush Nigerians just hate each other.

20132014:
Igbos? Why? Flat heads have nothing to offer.

Get behind me satan.

i love igbo people.