South Sudan’s Vice-President James Wani Igga has launched the University of Yei project, laying the foundation stone for the new public institution approved by President Salva Kiir.
Mr Igga, who is also deputy chairman of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), said the government had allocated funds to develop the university with President Kiir’s approval.
“Our president has established the University of Yei for the first time for the people of Yei,” Mr Igga said during the ceremony.
The project is expected to provide young people in Yei River County and surrounding areas with an opportunity to pursue university education closer to home, reducing the need to travel to Juba or other parts of the country.
Local education officials welcomed the establishment of the university, saying it could help address the limited access to higher education faced by young people in the area.
Yei River County Commissioner Samuel Henry Malimbo said the land title for the proposed university was ready.
However, he appealed for greater access to scholarships for students from Yei.
“We only hear about the scholarships in Juba without any coming to Yei,” Mr Malimbo said.
He urged the government to ensure that students from Yei benefit from national scholarship opportunities once the university becomes operational.
National Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Changkout Bichock said the University of Yei would not be limited to students from the area.
He said the institution would be a public university serving students from different parts of South Sudan.
The minister said his ministry had requested funding to begin initial work at the site and that some existing buildings could be used to help establish the university.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining security around the institution.
Mr Bichock said insecurity and instability could discourage students and academic staff from coming to Yei.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held at a former United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) base and was attended by government officials, religious and traditional leaders, students and members of the local community.
