By
Akunna Odii-Kelechi
 |
| Orji Uzo Kalu |
In my work environment, people pride
themselves with the university they attended. Some people who graduated from
prestigious schools abroad do not hide their contempt for Nigerian universities; and their reasons are obvious. It is believed that the quality of
the university one attended translates in the quality of the degree he or she
carries; and invariably translates in the quality of the individual. To improve
people’s perception of the name of their institutions, administrators go the
whole way to champion academic and moral courses to the credit of the schools.
Most Nigerian universities are still
struggling to build a good reputation; a name which would be synonymous with
the institution. Some universities go against all odds to have a good name. The
name is neither in the interest of the students alone nor in the interest of
the school management.
A school with good academic, moral and social standing
is a pride to the undergraduate students, the post graduate students, the
graduates of the institution, the academic and non-academic staff, the school
administration, the host community, the state and federal government and even
the future students, administrators and friends of the institutions.
When the name of any university is
mentioned among the educated class, there is a feeling that follows. Whether we
like or not, the general public are very keen and dedicated to knowing what is
happening in the schools.
That will determine whether they will ever send their
children or wards to the school or even advise anybody to do so. When the names
of some schools are mentioned, what comes to mind are cultism, indiscipline,
bribery and corruption, tribalism, prostitution and other negative vices.
Others are however known for academic excellence and discipline. Such schools
with a dint of good repute try to protect it while others who are still
tottering on the brink sacrifice all resources to make a good name.
But it is unfortunate that some of our
universities, like the Abia State University, do not think of reputation. They
do not mind the legacy they leave behind. They do not mind the feeling of the
numerous people who carry degree certificates of that institution.
I was
shocked to the marrows when I saw the press release of Abia State University,
Uturu, on the cancellation of the degree they awarded to former governor of
Abia State, Orji Uzo Kalu, which was proudly sponsored with millions of Naira
and published in several national dailies.
In fact I was shocked that such
maladministration could be championed by a university we call our own; an
institution which we have collectively endeavored to build to serve our present
and future quest for education and good living.
My pain with the press release is
neither on the withdrawal of Kalu’s certificate nor on the discredit they did
Kalu; my pain lies on the fact that the administration of Abia State University
has crashed every dint of effort to build a good reputation for the school. We
can no longer trust the institution any longer.
Abia State University claimed
that they manufactured a degree certificate for Kalu despite all the
shortcomings they mentioned in their press release and kept quiet over it for
many years, only to come up with the dirty facts when political conflicts are
built-up. This shows us that there are several cases of manipulations in the
school. Many unqualified persons may have been awarded different classes of
degrees from the institution and nobody is talking about them now.
In the press release, Abia State
University alleged that Kalu breached Academic Regulations on
Admission-by-Transfer; that Kalu did not complete mandatory 6 semesters before
he was awarded the degree, he spent only two semesters in all. Then, I beg to
ask, who signed Kalu’s degree certificate? Who was the Dean of the Faculty and
the Head of the Department under whose watch Kalu studied and graduated?
What
reason can the Kalu’s lecturers, departmental, faculty administrators adduce
for not taking their responsibilities? Does that not indicate that anything can
happen in the Abia State University? I hardly expect any cogent reason why Abia
State University should renege on its responsibilities when they matter most.
The deed has been done. Many unqualified people would have been offered admission in Abia State University and conversely, many qualified people would have been denied admission; yet, nobody is talking about that.
Many people who did not complete their
academic requirements would have been graduated from Abia State University,
Uturu and conversely, many people who have studied very hard, who have been law
abiding and God-fearing would have been denied graduation for one paltry reason
or the other.
I feel that many people who did not even get admissions into the
Abia State University have been decorated with different classes of prestigious
degrees in the expense of people who deserve the degrees and who have worked
hard to earn them. I feel that Abia State University has done a lot of
disservice to the people who have worked so hard to build the institution.
What does the Management of Abia State
University want us to believe? That the purported case of Orji Uzo Kalu is the
only case of corruption in the school? That the case of Orji Uzo Kalu is not
politically or ill-motivated? That the school administration has not raped the
honour of the Abia State University and that of the people who have anything in
connection with the school?
Where is the honour in the degrees
awarded by Abia State University? What message is the management of Abia State
sending to the general public on the academic businesses going on in the state
university? If my ward or son or daughter opts to go to Abia State University,
what do you want me to advise? In fact, Abia State University has killed our
pride and dragged everyone of us to mud.
Our universities have a problem with
building a reputation. After about 22 years, (since 1991), of its existence as
Abia State University, the institution is still tottering on the threshold of
history; and worst-still, instead of moving up, our dear Abia State University
is going down. So, when do we start building the institution? This also
applies to other universities and higher institutions.
The Abia State government should rise
up to its responsibility of properly checking what goes on in Abia State
University. By that press release, a hard blow has been dealt on the
institution and on everyone that parades any decoration from Abia State
University.
The only thing we can do now is to begin the reconstruction effort
and see how far we can in correcting the bad image of Abia State University. If
we hesitate in doing the right things at the right times, time is coming when
employers of labour and the general public will begin to downgrade anybody
wielding Abia State University certificates; it can even degenerate to a
condition where carriers of Abia State University results will be hiding the
papers in shame. God help Abia State. God help Nigeria.
Akunna Odii-Kelechi is a medical
student of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki.
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