Sustaining endowments pathway to quality university education - says Ojukwu Varsity VC

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By Madu Obi

The Vice-Chancellor of Anambra State -owned Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Prof. Kate Omenugha, has said that the sure way to sustain quality university education in Nigeria is through the institution of endowments.

Speaking during her mid-term media briefing at the Igbariam campus of the university, Omenugha observed that funding higher education is capital-intensive, noting that governments alone cannot provide all the needed requirements.

According to her, many universities in developed countries rely on endowment funds from individuals, corporate organisations and communities to finance strategic infrastructure and academic programmes, lamenting that such culture is yet to gain widespread acceptance in this part of the country.

"Endowments not only support educational development, but also provide an opportunity to immortalize individuals who fund projects", the VC said.

Omenugha commended the Anambra State government and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), as well as some philanthropists who had helped to transform the skylines of both the Igbariam and Uli campuses of the university.

"With the support we are receiving, we have been able to complete many projects that were abandoned before we assumed office and initiated new ones, some of which have been completed.

"The 'Friends of the University' initiative had already attracted support from prominent Anambra indigenes, resulting in the sponsorship of several projects across our campuses", she added.

She specifically commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for constructing 4.2 kilometres of roads within the university and providing electricity at the Uli Campus and the entire community.

Omenugha said that COOU has become one of the most sought -after universities by admission seekers, noting that more than 8,000 applicants made the university their first-choice in the current admission cycle through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

She, however, observed that the increasing student population has put greater pressure on available facilities and appealed to wealthy individuals and organisations to support ongoing infrastructure development in the three campuses of the university.

She also commented on the recent sacking of one of the professors who vied for the position of Vice Chancellor, Professor Chike Osegbo,

explaining that his sack by the governing council was not because he contested against her, but was due to relediction of duty.

She said: "Prof Osegbo was one of those that vied for the position of VC with me. He wasn't sacked because he vied for VC; he was sacked because he he fell short of his performance as a teacher.

" He was primarily employed as a lecturer and not as a VC. One can only be a VC if he is qualified and lucky, attend the interview and is selected. His agreement with his employers is essentially to teach.

"In his case, a student petitioned his Head of Department and the HOD issued him a query and copied me.

"He was subsequently invited to appear before an investigative panel, but he failed to do so. And when he responded to official queries, he did so with insulting remarks directed at the Vice-Chancellor’s office and the Anambra State governor.

"The panel set up to look into the matter submitted its findings to the university’s governing council, which approved his dismissal after following the institution’s disciplinary procedures."

She added that the council has , however, given him an opportunity to appeal the decision.

She said the dismissal was not linked to the vice-chancellorship contest, noting that other candidates who participated in the selection process have continued to serve in key positions in the university.