UNION LEADER CALLS ON AE-FUNAI VC TO CONSIDER RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE
…AS VC reaffirms commitment to the accreditation of all University Programmes
The Chairman of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Chapter, Comrade Emmanuel Chigbata has called on the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba to consider running for political position at the expiration of his tenure.
The labour leader made the call recently at the University main auditorium during a celebration to mark the successful full accreditation of 26 academic programmes of the University by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
VC, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba (R) clinking wine glasses with a member of University Council and Director of Health Services, Dr. Henry Aloh during the event
Chigbata had at the event noted that the University has received a new lease of life since Prof. Nwajiuba assumed duty as the 2nd substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University on 26th February, 2016. He maintained that under his watch, the University has witnessed massive infrastructural development, re-jigging of its academic activities to meet global best practices which underscored the accreditation of its programmes by the National Universities Commission, unparallel improvement in the welfare of staff and the provision of conducive and eco-friendly environment to promote teaching and learning.
Meanwhile the Vice-Chancellor had during the occasion reinstated his unalloyed commitment towards the growth and development of the University, stressing that before the expiration of his tenure all academic programmes of the institution would secure full accreditation from all the relevant government and professional bodies.
VC, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba addressing the University Community at the event
He explained that programmes under the Faculties of Education and Agriculture would be presented for accreditation this year. He therefore enjoined all staff to put their hands on deck to ensure that the University maintains its reputation as a serious-minded institution.
He also used the opportunity to express gratitude to staff and students, especially members of the Central Accreditation Committee, Deans and Heads of Academic Departments, Vice-Chancellor’s Special Accreditation Committee, Directorates of Academic Planning, Quality Assurance and Data-base Management for their untiring efforts which led to the success the University achieved in the last accreditation exercise.
Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, Dean, Faculty of Education, Dr. Chinyere Nwajiuba and other members of staff celebrating the NUC accreditation success
He further assured that the spate of infrastructural development and academic expansion going on in the University would continue, adding that “better days are ahead” and “you aren’t seen anything yet.”
Concluding, the Union leader further noted that unlike many who see leadership as a means of feathering one’s nest, Prof. Nwajiuba, has judiciously and conscientiously utilized the meager resources accruing to the University to drive its growth and development, stressing that the Vice-Chancellor has proved himself as an astute manager of men and financial resources and urged him not to rest on his oars.
Com. Emmanuel Chigbata speaking during the event
He maintained that the Vice-Chancellor is the type of leader Nigeria needs at this material time, where there is dearth of genuine leadership and appealed to him to consider joining partisan politics at the expiration of his tenure in order to arrest the worrisome degree of poverty and underdevelopment in the country, especially in his home state, Imo.
Recall that the University in 2014 before the coming of Nwajiuba presented 19 programmes to the NUC for accreditation. However, only two of the programmes were given full accreditation while the remaining 17 had interim accreditation status.