The governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has reiterated his commitment to rebuild Abia State University and make her a world-class citadel of higher learning.
Recall that Governor Otti had earlier in the year, set up a visitation panel, with terms of reference on 12 identified areas of interest that the panel should focus on.
During the inauguration of the panel, Governor Otti had emphasized that “the panel’s purpose was not to unnecessarily indict individuals, but to closely examine the university’s processes and systems,” and come up with recommendations to achieve excellence in education, administration, and governance.
Speaking when the panel submitted its report to him, Otti said education is at the heart of his administration’s development agenda, adding that it is not for nothing that the state government allocated 20 per cent of its entire budgetary outlay for the 2024 fiscal year to the sector.
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He said, “Our approach is methodical, as we are keen to understand the main challenges and then evaluate how to prudently deploy resources to achieve the outcomes we seek. Even then, we do not just want to throw money around in the misconception that money answers all things.
“We had set up this Full Visitation Panel to undertake a robust study of the systems and structures at ABSU, evaluate how they align with international best practices, and return to us with a comprehensive report that would direct what we do next in terms of investments, and policy formulation. In collaboration with the relevant agencies and partners
“What we ultimately seek to achieve is to rebuild ABSU into a citadel of excellence in learning, research and administration. We want to frontally confront and eliminate whatever constitutes a threat to our vision of turning the university into a world-class institution; one that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its peers across the world, on all the indices that matter in university education.”
Otti expressed the hope that the recommendations and insights contained in the report would help the government achieve its vision of institutional transformation of Abia State University. He thanked members of the panel for doing a great and thorough job in the assignment they were given three months ago, assuring that the government would work with the report.
He enthused, “You shall in no distant time begin to hear news of very interesting, and transformative developments in the university because, for us, good is never enough – we are either the best or completely out of it.”
Earlier, the chairman of the panel, Prof Steve Okodudu, said that the panel met about 42 times and did very extensive fieldwork, engaging with relevant stakeholders and reviewing relevant documents.
He enthused, “To deliver this work, we undertook extensive fieldwork, including visits to the university’s main campus at Uturu, as well as its locations in Aba and Umuahia. We reviewed numerous memoranda from stakeholders and scrutinized university records. Thus, the report we are presenting is the result of thorough research, extensive interviews, and diligent peer review sessions, thereby ensuring its factual accuracy and verifiability.
“We met 36 times physically and six times remotely, making it a total of 42 meetings. We approached the task you assigned to us with the commitment of elders planting trees for future generations to enjoy their shade.”
Other members of the panel include Prof. Rose Nwabueze, Prof. Ngozi Osarenren, Prof. Nnenna Oyidiya Okeh, Dr Sony Ajala, SAN, Dr Confidence Ogbonna, Mr Emma Okpechi, FCA, and Mr Dodoh Okafor
The state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Eme Uche Eme; Special Adviser to the governor on Education, Mr Kenechuchukwu Nwosu; and Technical Assistant to the governor, Mr. Charles Egonye were among government functionaries who witnessed the submission of the panel’s report.
Peoplesmind
