The Federal College Gusau has waded into the controversy surrounding the tutorial {qualifications} of the newly-appointed Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe College (UniZik), Awka, Anambra State, Prof. Benard Odoh, as the problem assumed political and ethnic dimensions.
The intervention of the Federal College Gusau has put to relaxation the insinuations, notably from the Tutorial Workers Union of Universities (ASUU), that Odoh shouldn’t have been appointed because the Vice Chancellor of UniZik for allegedly not having been a professor.
In what seems to be a response to the demand by the ASUU President that Odoh was not a full professor and that his appointment as Vice Chancellor be revisited, the authorities at Federal College Gusau clarified that Odoh was really appointed as a professor in Geological Sciences on the college on October 1, 2015.
An authorized true copy of the appointment letter dated November 8, 2024, signed by the Registrar and Secretary to the Council of Federal College Gusau, Ibrahim B. Kaura (who was the pioneer Registrar of the College from 2013-2018), confirming the professorship, was made obtainable to newsmen on Wednesday.
In response to the assertion, the college administration, having acquired beneficial evaluation stories from three assessors, accredited that Odoh ought to be promoted to the put up of Professor in Geological Sciences on CONUAS Step 1, efficient from October 1, 2015.
Based mostly on the clarification by Federal College Gusau, the Info and Public Relations Directorate of UNIZIK, in an announcement by its spokesman, Charles Otu, countered the ASUU President’s place, noting that some determined individuals from Nnamdi Azikiwe College had been utilizing the ASUU platform to pursue egocentric agendas after dropping out within the VC race.
The Directorate, within the assertion titled “UNIZIK VC Contest is Over: Determined Individuals Utilizing ASUU Platform for Egocentric Agenda,” expressed concern that regardless of understanding the reality in regards to the tutorial background of Prof. Benard Ifeanyi Odoh, the seventh substantive Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe College and the appointment procedures adopted by the Governing Council, “some determined characters have continued to unfold lies, falsehoods, and distortions of details with the intention to not solely whip up sentiments however to unduly warmth up the college setting for egocentric positive factors.”
It added, “Such characters behind these sordid acts ought to due to this fact be uncovered for who they’re—they’re folks of questionable character. After they didn’t safe the Vice Chancellor place, they resorted to baseless blackmail. They’re those that have been discovered culpable for one infraction or one other within the tutorial setting. As a result of the system in place then selected to condone their transgressions or gave them tender landings, they’re at this time emboldened to ‘combat,’ having prospered within the outdated order, and are very a lot uncomfortable and unsure over what the brand new order holds for them.
“They’re the folks hiding beneath the banner of the Tutorial Workers Union of Universities (ASUU) to pour invectives on the Professional-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe College.
“The newest press launch signed by the Nationwide President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, bears the imprimatur of those desperadoes. Osodeke appended his signature to the press launch primarily based on ignorance, out of the content material fed to him by the desperadoes who nonetheless selected to unfold falsehood over fact and accuracy.
“To proceed to ascribe the faulty notion that Prof. Benard Odoh is just not a full professor, because the ASUU press assertion highlighted, is the peak of ignorance and misinformation.”
“To set the data straight for the umpteenth time, Benard Ifeanyi Odoh was promoted to the rank of professor on the Federal College Gusau in 2015 beneath the tenure of the then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Benjamin Chukwuma Okeke. An authorized true copy of the letter conveying his formal promotion to full professor in Geological Sciences, with impact from October 1, 2015, dated November 12, 2015, was duly signed by Ibrahim B. Kaura, then Registrar and Secretary to the Council (2013-2018).
“Earlier than his appointment to full professorship at Federal College Gusau, he was appointed a Visiting Professor in 2014 on the similar college.
“Distinguished professors P.O. Okeke, previously of the Division of Geology and Mining, Enugu State College of Science and Know-how (ESUT) and in addition a marketing consultant on nationwide task with the Federal Ministry of Energy, and Prof. Aigbedion Isaac of the Geophysics Division, Ambrose Alli College, Ekpoma, Edo State, had been among the many group of exterior assessors who evaluated Odoh for the place of professorship.
“The exterior assessors evaluated his scholarly inputs, tutorial {qualifications}, analysis works, college administration expertise, technical/skilled contributions, group service, and got here up with a excessive advice for his professorship, which was duly accredited. The assessors are nonetheless alive at this time and kicking in good well being and have made public paperwork on this regard.”
