NIGERIA: Top university hit by floods

The University of Ibadan, one of Nigeria's leading higher education institutions, suffered huge infrastructural damage last week after torrential rain pounded the Oyo state capital, leading to floods. An assessment by the university revealed that property worth US$65 million was lost.

The university's teaching and research farm, with different species of fish valued at about $19 million, was washed away. News reports said the zoological garden was also affected, leading to the death of animals. Books estimated to be worth about $13million, held in the university bookshop, were destroyed.

University of Ibadan Vice-chancellor Professor Isaac Adewole, who inspected the damage with staff, said in a statement that besides many buildings, laboratories and expensive equipment being destroyed, the flood knocked down 13 electricity poles, leaving the university temporarily without power.

Ground floor rooms of students living in the Obafemi Awolowo Hall were flooded, Adewole said, and fencing had been destroyed.

Though no deaths have been recorded at the institution, the University College Hospital in Ibadan lost of one of its staff, physiotherapist Kunle Akinyele and his three children, to the flood.

The 61-year-old university will host the Institute of Earth and Life Sciences node of the Pan-African University, which will serve the whole of the West African.

COMMENT:

The University of Ibadan is the oldest and the leading university in terms of graduate studies and research in Nigeria and Africa. The flood was an unfortunate incident. Since the school has produced the highest number of prominent alumni in Nigeria, they should handle the issue.

Nnoke Ibe