By Okey Alozie
As controversy surrounds the removal of Prof Ikechukwu Awuzie as the Vice Chancellor of the Imo State University, Owerri, her successor, Prof (Mrs) Adaobi Obasi has denied having any hand in the governor’s action.
In a chat with Trumpeta on Tuesday in her office, Professor Mrs Obasi said that her coming to IMSU as the Vice Chancellor came to her as a surprise package, stating that “God knows my hands are clean”
Speaking further, the first female professor to take charge of IMSU as VC disclosed that she never intended to step on any body’s toes, adding that she never lobbied for the VC Job. She maintained that no amount of sabotage will make her not to record successes, pointing out that she will discharge her duties without fear or favour. “I will correct the ills of the past” she stated.
The acting VC hinted that she has embarked on salvation programmes to make sure that there is sanity in the institution.
She disclosed that 64 professorial assessment write ups have been sent out. According to her, the associate professors in the University have to be assessed by Professors of other tertiary institutions before they are finally upgraded. She explained that the associate professors otherwise known as readers have written 3 book each to justify their promotions.
She explained that each of these books will be assessed by different professors at the cost of N60, 000 each.
She said her regime will not task the lecturers again because they have paid for their professorial assessment before now and it was not utilized properly. She promised the Associate Professors that everything will work fine as she has no intention to witch hunt anybody throughout her stay as VC of Imo State University.
Another problem she complained being a stumbling block is the senate block. She told our reporter that the University has no senate hall for official meetings, adding that all the council meeting of the senate takes place in her office and sometimes at the Law department. She appealed to the authorities to do something fast about the absence of a place for meetings.
Prof Obasi thanked TETFUND for the rehabilitation and construction of new buildings at the University and urged the youths of the State to take advantage of the Rescue Mission Programme of the Okorocha government to excel in life.
