Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Vice Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, MOUAU, Professor Maduebibisi Offor Iwe, has appealed to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, to lift the embargo on employment in the university to enable the management fill the vacuum created by the absconment of lecturers on foreign training and continued migration of personnel in search of greener pasture abroad otherwise known as JAPA.
Professor Iwe who spoke during a press conference marking his fourth anniversary as VC, said the university would have serious personnel crisis if it did not recruit this year.
He said: “A lot of young people have left us. Many of them were not sincere enough to return after training. Millions of Naira were spent in training them but they left after their studies abroad. It’s not peculiar to MOUAU but affects others too.
“Monies that ASUU fought so hard for so many years to get for the training of its members. These beneficiaries abandoned the institution and Nigeria.
“There is now a hollow in the system, and we are appealing to the Federal Government to allow universities to employ to fill the gap. If we don’t employ this year, we will be having about 5-6 years of hollow, and that will be a big problem for Nigeria universities. Right now, everybody in the system has become Associate Professor. We no longer have many Senior Lecturers let alone Lecturers 1 and 2, or Assistant Lecturers.
“So, we appeal to Mr President to direct the people working under him to allow the university to employ as fast as possible so that we can start bridging the gap that has existed in the last five to six years.”
On the move by the House of Representatives to change the status of the institution from a specialised institution to a conventional university, the VC called for caution.
Recall that the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, had in a Bill which has already passed the second reading, sought the conversion of the university to a conventional institution to allow for expansion of its programmes.
Professor Iwe advised that Abia should rather make case for a brand new federal conventional university and allow MOUAU run as a specialised institution.
He commended political leaders for their efforts to develop the state but stressed the need for consensus by necessary stakeholders on what is the best for the state.
“We appreciate anything anybody is doing to show that he loves Abia State and Igbo land. But Abia needs a Think Tank devoid of politics. We must tread carefully when we’re handling the issue of MOUAU. This is more or less an Igbo university because Igbo people asked for a tripod to be created after Abeokuta and Makurdi. Those two are still Universities of Agriculture till date.
“In 2000, the name of this university was changed to rever the entrepreneurial spirit of the late Michael Okpara. So, it’s good to keep history in whatever we want to do. It will be good that this university is left to bear that name and also exercise itself in such programmes.”
He advised the stakeholders to rather lobby for a brand new conversation university instead of tinkering with the status of MOUAU.
“The bottom line of my submission is that Abia needs another federal university, and the earlier it is given to Abia the better. The more you leave Abia with one federal university, the more you cause tension and stress on the people because to receive juicy admissions in other states is so difficult.
“To also have the people of Abia work in other federal universities outside of this place could equally be stressful. So, I think we should go for another federal university and continue to grow MOUAU.”
The VC identified some of his achievements to include prevailing peace on the campus, completion of projects inherited by his administration, restoration of the de-listed programmes of the university and addition of new ones; and introduction of biometric data capturing of students of the institution.
Others include development of the university’s permanent site, establishment of Artificial Intelligence Centre; establishment of the Centre for Agric Incubation, establishment of bread and biscuits factories, revival of the university Guest House, among others.
He promised to sustain the tempo of transformation by his administration until the end of his tenure in March 2026.
The VC who said that the introduction of biometric data capturing by his administration, had paid off, put the students population of the institution to 24, 000.
Professor Iwe who insisted that federal universities do not pay fees but students charges, urged students to promptly pay their charges to enable the management keep the institution running.
He advised students to take advantage of the students’ loan scheme and secure funds for their training instead of owing school charges.
“If students refuse to pay, there will be no light, there will be no water and other services provided by management. Government pays staff salaries and provides infrastructure and other interventions but the day to day running of university is carried by students charges. So, students must pay their charges early.”
The VC explained that the institution, “within 48 hours, confirms list of students who applied for NELFUND,” revealing that some smart individuals who had applied using the name of the institution had been detected through the help of biometrics.
Professor Iwe who disclosed that the institution had received the seed money for the development of its permanent site, promised judicious application of the funds.
He said that the Visitation Panel had directed that further developments in the institution be taken to the permanent site as the current site was already used up.
Professor Iwe promised that substantial work would be done at the permanent site before the end of his tenure in 2026.
