COOU’s Urban and Regional Planning Department Faces Possible Closure Over Low Student Enrolment

By Praise Chinecherem

The management of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Anambra State, has raised concerns over the dwindling enrolment in its Department of Urban and Regional Planning, warning that the programme could be shut down if the trend persists.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kate Omenugha, made the disclosure while receiving members of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Anambra State Chapter, who paid her a courtesy visit at the university’s Igbariam Campus as part of activities marking the Institute’s 60th anniversary.

Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Obiora Ejiofor, Omenugha described the department’s student population as alarmingly low, saying the situation had forced the university to consider the future of the programme.

“The management is deeply concerned that we do not have enough students in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning. At the moment, it almost appears that the number of lecturers is equal to the number of students,” she said.

She recalled that the department previously enjoyed higher enrolment, but noted that admissions had steadily declined over the years.

“When a department does not have enough students, management naturally begins to ask whether it should continue to exist. We have other departments facing similar challenges, and if student numbers do not improve, difficult decisions may have to be taken,” she added.

The Vice-Chancellor appealed to the town planners’ institute to partner with the university in promoting the discipline across secondary schools in Anambra State, stressing the need to create greater awareness of the career opportunities available in Urban and Regional Planning.

“We need your support to attract more students so that continued investment in the department will be justified. You can also encourage candidates who are unable to secure admission into their first-choice courses to consider Urban and Regional Planning,” she said.

According to her, the university has no difficulty with admission quotas approved by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), but rather with filling the available slots.

“The JAMB quota is already there. Our challenge is simply attracting enough qualified candidates to fill the available spaces,” she explained.

Omenugha described COOU as one of the most sought-after universities in the South-East during JAMB admissions, attributing the institution’s growing appeal to ongoing reforms and transformation initiatives under her administration.

She reaffirmed the university’s commitment to maintaining academic standards, assuring stakeholders that management would continue providing the necessary support to ensure all academic programmes secure accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC).

“We remain committed to ensuring that every programme offered by the university meets NUC accreditation requirements, and we have continued to provide the necessary funding to support that objective,” she stated.

As part of the visit, the NITP delegation proceeded to the university’s Uli Campus, where members interacted with students of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, encouraging them to remain committed to the profession despite current challenges.

Speaking during the engagement, the Head of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Mr. Abazu Chinedu, assured the students that the profession offers vast career prospects in urban development, environmental management, physical planning and sustainable infrastructure.

He urged them to remain focused, expressing confidence that qualified town planners would continue to play critical roles in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding urban landscape.