Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The outgoing Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, has highlighted key achievements of his administration, identifying the restoration of peace on campus as one of his enduring legacies.
Addressing a mammoth gathering of staff during a meeting, Prof. Iwe expressed delight that peace had been restored in the institution.
He listed other achievements to include the reopening of the College of Management and Allied Sciences, which was previously shut down; the establishment of water processing and bread factories; the recovery of the MOUAU Microfinance Bank; and the attraction and equipping of several buildings through TETFund and other funding sources.
According to him, other milestones include the timely processing and release of staff research funds, reduction of university Senate expenses, development of the university’s permanent site, and engagement in smart agriculture, among others.
However, the Vice-Chancellor identified some challenges facing the institution, such as scarce resources, migration of staff, abscondment of staff on studies abroad, general despondency among university staff, and the exploitation of students by some unscrupulous academic staff.
Prof. Iwe appealed to applicants who were not successful in the recent recruitment exercise to remain patient, explaining that only 400 applicants were approved for employment out of over 15,000 applications.
He stressed that the management under his leadership never charged money for admission or job offers, and solicited the continued cooperation and support of staff for his successor.
The outgoing VC promised to sustain his commitment to transforming the institution for the remainder of his tenure and even afterwards.
Meanwhile, the university has granted a waiver allowing students to sit for examinations with or without payment of school fees, following delays by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) in crediting some beneficiaries.
Prof. Iwe also announced that the university had postponed its first semester examinations by one week.
He explained that the decision to allow all students to sit for the examinations without insisting on payment of fees was to prevent beneficiaries of the students’ loan scheme, who were yet to be credited, from being unfairly excluded.
The Vice-Chancellor attributed the delays to late applications by some students and advised them to apply for the NELFUND loan between July and September to ensure timely processing.
“We need to educate our students and wards who are interested in the loan to apply between July and September so they can access it before the beginning of any academic session,” he said.
He added that the university had simplified access to the NELFUND loan through its database and biometric platforms.
Prof. Iwe, whose tenure expires in February, used the occasion to formally present his scorecard, insisting that most of his vision for the institution had been realised.
In response, staff members who attended the meeting in large numbers showered encomiums and commendations on the outgoing Vice-Chancellor.
The staff, who identified the restoration of peace on campus as one of his greatest legacies, passed a vote of confidence on him.
Moving the motion, which was seconded by Dr. Ogechi Ume, Prof. Michael Ekwe described Prof. Iwe as a man of peace.
Speaker after speaker commended the outgoing VC for the successes recorded under his watch.
