The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has clocked 55 but a memorable feature of the event is the printing of commemorative stamps by the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST).
Speaking at the launching of the 55th Anniversary Commemorative Stamps for the University of Nigeria, the acting Postmaster General of the Federation, Arch. Enoch Ade Ogun said the move would make post offices ICT compliant and widen financial services to Nigerians especially those who live in the rural areas and have no access to financial banks.
Ogun said, “The significance of today’s occasion cannot be over-emphasised. This is because fifty-five years in the life of an institution is not only a landmark but also a watershed that signifies consistency, growth and progress of this great university despite the challenges being faced by the education sector in Nigeria.
“The fact that the University of Nigeria has surpassed the ‘golden’ and is still waxing strong calls for celebration and we in NIPOST are proud to be associated with the institution in celebrating this anniversary with the launching of the commemorative postage stamps.
“Many people may be wondering why the university authorities have chosen postage stamps as part of activities to mark this important anniversary. All over the world, postage stamps are regarded as one of the most effective means of supplying information about a country’s history, culture and people. Postage stamps are often described as miniature encyclopedia and living reminders of events.”
He pointed out that the challenges posed by globalization required governments, institutions and even individuals to showcase not just their uniqueness but also their achievements and contributions in a manner that would be acceptable to the global community.
The Postmaster General assured Nigerians of NIPOST’s readiness to consistently ensure that major events in Nigeria’s national life were documented for posterity via the issuance of commemorative postage stamps, adding that postal services were still essential to every country’s economic and social structure.
He said University of Nigeria was eminently qualified to feature on Nigeria stamps given its importance in the country’s socio-economic development, adding that the university would become the third among the first generation of Nigerian universities to use the postage stamps to showcase their acomplishments and potentials.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Benjamin Ozumba said: “It is our belief that these commemorative stamps will carry the visions and missions of UNN not only to other parts of Nigeria but the world over.”
Ozumba emphasised that it was remarkable that the launching came at a time when the university secured the hosting right of the West African University Game (football and hockey campionships), saying that he hopes the launching of the stamps would showcase the university and the entire West Africa sub-region through the 4th West African University Game currently going on in the Nsukka campus of the institution.
The stamps which were launched at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium in Nsukka campus comprised four denominations of N120, N100 and two sets of N50 stamps. Portraits of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe; Dr. George Johnson, first Vice-chacellor of the university; a mascot of the university with the motto “To Restore the Dignity of Man” and that of Prof. Ozumba were embossed on the stamps.
