By Kenechukwu Ofomah, Awka
People of Southeastern Nigeria have been urged to embrace the culture of making endowments in universities in the region, as a way of improving the quality of tertiary education, especially in state-owned institutions.
The Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, COOU, Igbariam, Prof Kate Omenugha made the appeal during a Mid-term media briefing she performed at the VC’s conference room, Igbariam campus of the university on Thursday.
Addressing the journalists, Prof Omenugha observed that people of the Southeast have not really understood the concept of endowments, especially how it serves the dual purpose of immortalizing personalities and supporting the cause for quality education in tertiary institutions.
She noted that funding universities in the 21st century is capital intensive and, as such, well above the capacity of any government, noting that what developed nations and societies are now exploring is endowments, where individuals, groups or corporate organizations can take up various projects in their names.
The Vice Chancellor said that through various intervention funds from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the support of the Anambra State Government, the university administration has significantly turned around the face of infrastructure in the university.
She, however, noted that despite the accomplishments, the university is still in need of more, calling on public-spirited individuals to put in their wealth in improving infrastructure in the school.
“This university sits on 712 hectares of land, which is quite a size.
“We have done a lot as an administration, completed many abandoned projects and started and completed new ones, and we are still doing more. But our people should understand that whatever government is putting in here will not be enough.
“All over the world, societies are leveraging private sector and community support to advance infrastructure in universities. Yet, our people have not fully keyed into this sustainable way of improving the quality of tertiary education.
“TETFund is trying its best; the Anambra State Government is doing its best. 4.2 kilometres of roads built in the university by the government, and over one hundred million has already been given to the university management. but the people must understand that investment in education is the greatest of all.
“This academic session alone, we have over 8,000 applicants, who made COOU their first choice in the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, and this tells us that more people are beginning to notice the work we are doing by bringing visibility to the university. But with this increase comes the greater challenge of infrastructural deficit and we believe our wealthy people can come in and support,” she said.
Omenugha revealed that through the ‘Friends of the University’ initiative which her administration is championing, many high networth Anambra sons have taken up sponsorship of various projects, which are at various stages of completion.
According to her, she has been expending her social capital and contacts to attract development to the university.
“So many buildings are springing up and many have been completed. We are doing the multipurpose building to house the medical laboratory and classrooms in Igbariam and the Uli Campus. Very soon, we are starting up the building that will house the Theatre Arts Department.
The tender board will soon finish its process for that project to take off. We now have the University kitchen. The university bakery, being done by a private individual, is ongoing. The university souvenir centre is up and running, promoting indigenous production of things we use in the institution, and many other things.
“The university system must be run like a private enterprise and that is why have been able to achieve so much as you can see, across the various campuses of the university. We are unapologetic about the milestones we have recorded, because we set out with a clear objective in mind. With the developmental guides we have put in place, we can measure our achievements and can comfortably tell you that we are on course towards making COOU the Now University and of the future,” she boasted.
Earlier, before the briefing, the Public Relations Officer of the University, Dr Harrison Madubueze had conducted journalists on a tour round the institution, to witness the infrastructural transformation going on in the institution.
The tour, he explained, became necessary to present the media practitioners with an on-the-spot assessment of the transformation on ground, against the backdrop of sustained media attacks on the university management by some lecturers recently sacked by the Governing Council of the University.
Reacting to allegations that one of the sacked lecturers, Prof Chike Osegbue was being victimized because he contested the Vice-Chancellor’s position with her, Prof Omenugha debunked the allegations, insisting that the lecturer was sacked because he consistently reneged on his primary duty in the university, which she said, was to teach.
According to her, when the issue of dereliction of duty was found, the Head of Department under which the sacked professor worked issued him a query, but instead of answering, he responded with insults on the Office of the Vice Chancellor and the Governor of the State.
“Prof Osegbue had students who were preparing for their Masters Course in Political Science and he never appeared to teach them. When his HOD issued him a query, he wrote all kinds of insults against myself and the Governor, insisting that the university does not have a VC. After that, the registrar of the university issued him a query and he responded in the same manner. A panel was set up to look into the allegation and he was duly invited. Yet, he never appeared.
“The panel then sat and made its recommendation to the university’s governing council and the council approved his sack. The Council even gave him 30days to respond in an appeal on why the sack should not stand and they are waiting for him.
“So, anyone making the allegations that Osegbue was sacked because he contested the Vice Chancellorship position with me is telling a lie.
“There are also other contestants in that VC election who are still working with my administration, occupying key positions. Why are they not victimized too?
“Come to think of it, I was the acting VC; I have served as a Head of Department and director in Federal University; I have served as Commissioner for Education in Anambra for 8 years; I have served the Presidency at various capacities. I have also over 800 citations in publications. Compare it with that of Prof Osegbue and know whether he stood a chance against me in that contest,” she said.
Omenugha noted that his administration is more focused on delivering its vision of making the university viable and visible, and cannot be distracted by antics of persons who do not have much to offer the university.
She insisted that what her administration has done in trying to sanitize the university was a case that was very difficult for previous administrations in the university, noting that she should be commended and not vilified for doing the right things.
“Nobody can vilify me for sacking corrupt lecturers and those who sexually assault students. This was something former Vice Chancellors could not muster the courage to fight, and I should be encouraged not vilified for doing the right thing.
“The Alumni has written me to commend me, and I need more of such encouragement to continue to sanitize the system for our children to be able to study in a sane environment. We cannot sack anybody because of personal vendetta. Of course, to sack a lecturer, there are processes to follow, which were all duly followed,” she said.
