NURSING MOTHER UNIT AND MODERN CONVENIENCE UNDER CONSTRUCTION BY UNIZIK ALUMNI, LAGOS ISLAND CHAPTER, TO BE COMMISSIONED SOON
By Ikenna Nwokedi, PhD
The Nursing Mother Unit and Modern Convenience under construction by the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Alumni, Lagos Island Chapter is almost completed and on the verge of being commissioned.
The revelation was made public by the Chairperson, UNIZIK Alumni, Lagos Island Chapter, Iyom Princess Amaka Obi, one of the main sponsors of the project. In a chat with reporters on Saturday at the site of the construction domiciled opposite the Faculty of Education Complex of the institution. Iyom Princess Obi stated that the Modern Convenience also housing a Nursing Mother Unit is the first of its kind in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
“The Modern Convenience and Nursing Mother Unit is the first of its kind in the institution, as I was elected the Chairperson of the UNIZIK Alumni, Lagos Island Chapter, I took it upon myself to ensure that there will be a legacy project done by the Chapter of the Alumni I represent. I discussed with members of my Alumni Chapter and we decided that constructing a Modern Convenience and Nursing Mother Unit would be ideal as we’ve noticed that accessibility to an open convenience was a bit of a challenge in the institution as they are mostly locked and usually made use of by principal officers of the institution,” Obi said.
Iyom Princess Obi posited that the Modern Convenience whose foundation laying was performed last year is 90 percent completed while also giving a description of the contents of the structure. “I am delighted to tell you that our legacy project is 90 percent complete and will be commissioned very soon in fulfillment of the promise we made towards completion of the project within a year of its commencement,” She emphasized.
“The building is demarcated in two sections, one section for male convenience with a total of seven toilets, six for the usual and one for the physically challenged. There are five Urinary units, three washhand basins and one shower component for refreshing in the case of physical activities such as sports and recreation. The female convenience also has nine toilet units, one for the physically challenged, four washhand basins and a shower for cleaning up for the ladies as well as nursing mothers. The other wing which is located at the centre of the building is a Nursing Mother Unit which will serve as a form of relaxation for pregnant women and nursing mothers who may wish to breast feed and clean up their babies. Overall we’ve been proactive by putting up a structure that will serve the University Community,” She Said.
On plans regarding maintenance and administration of the building, Iyom Princess Obi said that before the project is commissioned, the Alumni will be having a discussion with the institution’s authority on the way forward. “We intend to discus with the University Authority on ways of ensuring that the legacy project is maintained. We have two proposals in mind, one is for the Alumni to manage the convenience for a period of one year to show everyone how it can be adequately managed and another could be to manage the structure for six months before it is handed over, but these projections are at the instance and discretion of the University Management,” She revealed.
Iyom Princess Obi also revealed that due to the escalating cost of building materials since last year, the initial estimate for the project has doubled and the sponsors had to dig in to ensure completion within the projected timeline. The Chairperson of the UNIZIK Alumni, Lagos Island Chapter pointed out that owing to some reasons, the Alumni need the necessary encouragement from the University authorities to ensure that the project is delivered on time.
Iyom Princess Obi is a politician, contractor, real estate developer, a designer and realtor.
