Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Vice Chancellor Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike MOUAU Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, has identified paucity of funds as one of the major impediments of the institution, regretting that it is yet to receive its take-off grant 30 years after it was established.
Professor Iwe who stated this during a press conference Tuesday, on the 30th anniversary of the university/Founder’s Day maiden Dr Michael Okpara Lecture Series, appealed to the Federal Government to do the needful to enable the institution tackle its various financial burdens.
The VC also expressed worry over the refusal of some staff of the university on foreign programmes to return after their studies.
He said it was unpatriotic for somebody to benefit from public funds and fail to reciprocate the gesture by returning to impart the knowledge on others at home in accordance with the bond they signed.
Professor Iwe lamented that the ugly development had already started affecting the personnel strength of the affected colleges.
“There is now a persistent challenge of retaining our younger trainees staff who after benefiting from university sponsorship abroad, often sever their ties and decline to return to serve the institution,” he regretted.
“If we don’t discourage what is happening now, time is coming we won’t find anyone to teach others. It’s not proper for someone to sign a bond for the national cake, and take it abroad to eat and refuse to return home.”
The VC noted that some remarkable achievements had been recorded by successive Managements of the university.
He identified some of the achievement to include the establishment of table water factory, bakery, commercial fish farm, signing of Memorandum of Understanding with over 12 national and international bodies, among others.
The VC promised to record more successes in the years ahead.
