The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, MOUAU, chapter, has stated reasons it petitioned President Bola Tinubu over the institution’s 57th Inaugural Lecture, scheduled for Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
ASUU had in a petition, urged President Tinubu called to cancel the 57th Inaugural Lecture, citing irregularities surrounding the professorship of the scheduled inaugural lecturer, Professor Raphael Echebiri.
This was contained in a statement signed by the chairperson of ASUU-MOUAU Chapter, M. Ugwuene and Secretary, E. C. Osodeke.
ASUU claimed that Echebiri’s professorship, initially granted during the administration of former Vice Chancello,r Professor Hilary Edeoga, was later revoked. They further alleged that the current administration reinstated Echebiri’s promotion without addressing concerns raised in the past.
ASUU referenced a letter sent to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Maduebibisi Iwe, on August 26, 2024, reminding him of a report by the MOUAU Visitation Panel.
The Union stated that the report against Echebiri’s promotion had not followed due process.
The statement read in part, “We demand that the inaugural lecture be cancelled. And that the Vice Chancellor refrain from promoting illegality within the university. Such actions risk taking the university back to an era of impunity and tarnishing its public image.”
But responding to the allegation, the Head of the Public Relations Unit at MOUAU, Ubadire Agua, dismissed ASUU’s claims. He stated that the university’s Senate, which includes ASUU members, had approved Professor Echebiri as the inaugural lecturer.
Agua also defended the Vice Chancellor, describing him as a man committed to peace and institutional development of the university.
The PRO affirmed that the lecture would proceed as scheduled. He emphasized that the current atmosphere of peace and progress at MOUAU should not be disrupted.
He said, “The inaugural lecture will hold as planned. The Vice Chancellor has always prioritized fairness and the overall good of the institution.”
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