The Rivers State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Desmond Akawor, has declared that the establishment of the Federal University of Environment and Technology is one of the greatest gifts to the people of Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Akawor made the statement on May 8, 2026 during the inauguration of the group’s ward coordinators at Sakpenwa in Tai LGA.
According to him, the role played by the late Barry Mpigi, who sponsored the bill and worked tirelessly toward its actualization remains unforgettable.
He further noted that the global recognition enjoyed by Nsukka today is largely connected to the establishment of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State by the Federal Government.
He added that Tai LGA would, in the near future, gain similar international recognition capable of attracting meaningful development and investment to the area.
“There is a town called Nsukka. Nsukka is a village with less people than Tai, but today Nsukka has a name worldwide just because of one item — the university that was established in that place,” he said.
Delivering his address, the Rivers South-East Coordinator of the group, Marcus Nle-Eji, commended the leadership and people of Tai for sustaining the spirit, structure, and followership established by their late leader, Barry Mpigi.
Barry Mpigi, until his unfortunate demise, was the Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
He urged the newly inaugurated ward coordinators to spread the Renewed Hope message across the various units in their wards.
“With the calibre of persons I am seeing here and the speeches your leaders have made here, I am very sure and confident that wherever our Senator is today, he will be very happy to see that his legacy and his group are still alive and will deliver,” he stated.
The Chairman of Tai LGA, Mbakpone Friday, who is also the Coordinator of the group in the LGA, thanked the delegation for the visit, assuring them that the people of Tai LGA would continue to perform well.