FIC Report (Abia State) – The Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Uturu, Professor Maxwell Onyemachi Ogbulu has disclosed that a total of 5,712 Graduands would be conferred with first class degrees and higher degrees in the combined Convocation ceremony that will feature Pre Convocation lecture on the topic, “Nigeria Political and Economic Future: The Dangers We Can Avert” on Thursday 11th November 2021 by former Information Minister and Immediate Past President of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, Chief Barrister Nnia Nwodo.
The ABSU VC made this known during a Pre Convocation Press briefing that kick started the activities to mark the 27th and 28th Convocation which could not hold in 2020 due to the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic.
Professor Ogbulu as the 8th substantive Vice Chancellor of ABSU said the Institution is partnering with it’s Alumni Association over the last years with the erecting of a 50 room Post Graduate hostel, the on ‐going 25 room Guest house (work has reached advanced stage) the new Optometry building ,funded by TETFUND and two building offices for the Vice Chancellor and Faculty of Humanities adding that a reasonable infrastructural development and facilities are in progress at the Osisioma Campus meant to help deliver projects that will enhance academic activities in the University .
According to him, the two Convocation Sets produced 29 first class students ,1,092 second class upper division ,2, 539 bagged second class lower division, 280,had 3rd class,265 ,Doctorate Degrees and others while the overall best graduating student in Medicine and Surgery had 14 distinctions.
He assured that the Management is not relenting to clear the arrears of salaries.
In keeping with the promise of his administration, Professor Ogbulu stated that his administration has made the issue of staff welfare top priority resulting in promotion of Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff, realignment and motivation of Staff in several other ways to jointly pursue the goals of the administration with transparency and openness as a key strategy.
The ABSU Vice Chancellor revealed that this has engendered mutual trust, co-operation and synergy as the Staff and Unions are constantly aware of efforts of his administration towards reducing the inherited salary arrears with every resource that is generated.
The ABSU Vice Chancellor, who noted that his administration will clock one year by 1st December 2021 maintained that the road map of the Institution remains comprehensive plan for financial independence which involves identifying and harnessing resources installing key process to drive the core mandate of Abia State University in Teaching, Research and Community Service.
While acknowledging that the Institution is not sleeping to arrest the issue of insecurity which is a global phenomenal and not peculiar to the State.
He, however, reiterated that the issue of security lies squarely on the Federal Government and commended the 143 and 145 Battallion Army points in upholding peace and security.
The VC added that Abia state University has produced outstanding Graduates despite her challenges.
Professor Onyemachi Ogbulu explained that his adminstration anchored it’s developmental strides on his predecessor, Prof Uche Ikonne’s successes, maintaining that the previous leadership recorded tremendous achievements that will be difficult to exceed and pledged that his adminstration should leverage on the successes recorded by his Predecessor to move the Institution to enviable heights.
He noted that his administration encapsulated it’s mission statement in the slogan, “Let The Change Continue”, having worked closely with his predecessor whose tenure as VC of the institution recorded tremendous achievements with its mantra, “Our Story Must Change”.
According to him, “The road map was to have a comprehensive plan for financial Independence which involves identifying and harnessing resources and installing key processes and procedures that will drive the core mandate of our University in teaching, research and community services. This becomes imperative in the midst of dwindling funding of academic Institutions occasioned by the global economic recession
“There is no gainsaying the fact that the administration recorded a lot of huge achievements. Infact, it has set a very tough standard for us which any incoming Vice Chancellor can not afford to fall below, so it is a very good thing for us. We see the change, the records are there and it must continue”, Ogbulu said.
“In keeping with the promise of my administration, we have made the issue of Staff welfare our priority resulting in promotion of Teaching and non Teaching Staff, realignment and motivation of Staff in several other ways to jointly pursue the goals of the administration, with transparency and openness as key strategy.
“This has engendered mutual trust, cooperation and synergy as the Staff and Unions are constantly aware of the efforts of the administration towards reducing the inherited salary arrears with every resource that it generates.
“Today, we can safely say that it is paying off with significant stability in academic activities which this mutual trust generates. The issue of salary arrears will soon be resolved”.
The ABSU Vice Chancellor who used the opportunity to reel out his achievements in his one year in office said the University has made appreciable developments as it continues to blaze the trail in academic performance with Graduates and products of the Institution making exceptionally in positions of leadership.
“We have used the first year in office to set up processes and procedures in form of communication made up of tested and trusted persons to drive and harness resources both human and capital to help us deliver our goals in a sustainable manner in areas of academic programmes, revenue drive, public and private partnership, community relations, staff/students welfare, security, Infrastructural development as well as prudent management of resources.
He announced that the Convocation proper will commence with commissioning of some projects in the University, conferment of first class degrees and higher degrees, Award of honorary doctorate degrees on some Distinguished and Eminent Personalities of Igbo land, while the Visitor to the University and Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu will also attend the Convocation ceremony.
Meanwhile, the Honorary Doctorate Degrees Awardees are Chairman, Air Peace Limited, Barrister Allen Onyema, Award of Doctorate Degree in Public Administration (DPA), Founder/CEO, Slot Systems Limited, Engineer Nnamdi Ezigbo, Award of Doctorate Degree in Business Administration (DBA) and Former National INEC Commissioner (South East zone), Dame Gladys Nne Nwafor, Award of Doctorate Degree in Business Administration (DBA) during the 27th and 28th combined Convocation ceremony.
The the Awards on the selected distinguished and eminent Personalities of the South East region was conceived following their legacies in human development.
The VC restated that there will also be conferment of Emeritus Professor on Professor S.O. Igwe as Professor of Education Finance, Professor G.I. Nwaka as Professor of History and a Posthumous Professor of Economic History on late Professor A. I Nwabughuogu.
