On Monday June 30th, Professor Micheal Umale Adikwu was elected by the senate of the University of Abuja as the Vice Chancellor, thus effectively ending the rancorous years of Prof. Adelabu at the helm. AUGUSTINE OKEKE visited the university recently and made the following observations
ASUU, UniAbuja Chairman, Dr. Ugheoke set the appraisal tone on the 100 days of Adikwu’s Vice Chancellorship, when he relished the current atmosphere in the university as refreshing, progressive and uncommon in the history of the citadel.
He said “He is learning fast, where it not for the slight breaches in the M.O U we signed with him, I will gladly say so far so good. Adikwu has reversed the sliding trend. Salaries are now paid as at when due and the whole system is back on track again, I am excited”.
Stable Academic Environment
On assumption of duty, the first assignment, Adikwu carried out was to reach out to relevant stake holidays and aggrieved union members in the university including academics, labor unions, the students and several other associations that litter the campus.
Adikwu’s approach was interpreted by many as timely and extremely needful considering the fact that his emergence was hotly contested by his opponents, prompting some of them to even head to court to stop him from functioning.
The meetings with the various bodies soon paid off as ASUU called off their industrial action necessitating the reopening of the school and resumption of classes. Also academic time table has since been restored as students now take their lectures, examinations as well as terminal holiday as regularly planned.
Backlog of examination results that had continued to pile up with frequent cases of missing results, were no longer the case. The situation appeared reversed as students now heave sighs of relief with prompt release and fading cases of missing results.
Re-organization of the departments/staff
The VC also carried out fresh re-organization of the position of the various head of departments and appointed fresh hands to quick foot his administration. Those that were sent packing were seen as having past their expectations and incapable of delivering the newly foisted dreams and visions. Also an acting registrar was appointed, and has since helped stabilize the administration.
Full Accreditation of Academic Programmes
Recall that the issue of accreditation of some of the programmes run by the university had remained recurring, prompting students restiveness, incessant closure of the school and the transfer of students to other universities with relevant accredited courses, That question have now been laid to rest, with the accreditation of most program run by the university .
Even students that were hitherto transferred to other universities are now returning to the university, while those that had remained stagnated without graduation are now doing so. Recently, graduates from the Veterinary had their combined convocation, after having waited for several years in the lurch. The sandwich students also had their matriculation ceremony, a situation that never happens several years back.
Recently, the National Universities commission held a joint advocacy workshop on distance learning, which also attracted pledges by the commission to help resuscitate the fledging distance learning programme and push it back on track. With the anticipated injection of funds, the distance learning programme, the post graduate programme and several others that hitherto acted as strong revenue generating base, are set to receive prompt attention and re-activation.
Infrastructural development
A visit to the university, particularly, the permanent site shows litany of ongoing projects for various department and agencies that are yet to be completed. In an interview, the Vice Chancellor said that his primary concern is to complete all ongoing projects that were handed over to him especially the appropriated projects and to engage private investors under Build, Own and Transfer (BOT) arrangements. He assured that by the time these projects are completed, the university landscape will assume its rightful aesthetic outlook.
Also speaking while receiving the visiting Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, in his office, Professor Adikwu requested for more budgetary appropriation to enable the university complete abandoned projects.
Stakeholders are also appealing for the construction of a shopping mall in the permanent to absorb all the retail outlets that litter the landscape thereby defacing its aesthetics. The university not only stands to realize huge economic benefits in the venture but give the environment the needed facelift.
Student Unionism
Democratic culture and openness in leadership style which has been denied the students and stakeholders by the past administration has been restored. The latest being the successful conduct of student union election, which had restored parity in the relationship between the students and the school management. The act of mutual suspicion and impunity has been removed and replaced with friendship, open dialogue and cordiality. Students and indeed every aggressive stakeholder have been having access to justice and prompt intervention. Security on Campus.
Security on Campus
To restore the fallen security situation on campus, Prof. Adikwu made several visits to relevant security agencies in a bid to foster strong security arrangement that can stand the test of time on campus. The university authority has presently entered into joint security relationship with the police, state security since, Civil Defense Corps, alongside existing university security personnel. University of Abuja is now safe and habitable.
Enhanced relationship with Parastatals/Ministry
Presently the university maintains excellent relationship with several Parastatals in Education including the Parent Ministry, NUC, TETFUND, and so on. This new found relationship has no doubt opened doors for inflow of different level of assistance, to fast track the growth and development of the university.
