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From Obinna Odogwu, Awka
Polish ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Michael Cygan, will deliver the convocation lecture of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam this Friday, April 24.
Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kate Omenugha, disclosed this during a press briefing in her conference office to mark the commencement of the varsity’s 16th Convocation ceremonies and Founder’s Day/4th Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Memorial Lecture.
The VC, who revealed that the university would be churning out a total of 3,155 graduands and 808 postgraduate scholars, said that her administration was working hard to move the citadel of learning forward.
She revealed that the Polish ambassador would speak on the topic: Building Innovative Minds and Bridges for Shared Prosperity.
Going further, the VC said that the university was taking the issue of climate change very seriously, revealing that the institution has planted many trees and would be activating other initiatives to tackle the harsh impacts of climate change.
“Our target is to plant 5,000 diplomatic and economic trees tagged restoration. When the institution started, some people foolishly cut down trees here. But we’ll keep planting and nurturing more trees”, she said.
Omenugha said that she had laid out a 5-year strategic plan, and a clearly defined roadmap and master plan for the development of the university.
“We would like to be number 10 public university in Nigeria and ranked among the first 1,000 in the world. It’s doable, especially now we’ve been registered with the ranking system”, she said.
Speaking further, the VC said that the institution under her watch takes issues of discipline very seriously, revealing that disciplinary actions had been unleashed on the staff members who violated the varsity’s rules and regulations.
“Their names are all published under what we tagged: ‘naming & shaming’. We do this to serve as deterrent to others. There are some who sold textbooks without recourse to our bookshops.
“We withhold salaries here for say two years while others could go on suspension. Some are waiting for outright expulsion once the council approves.
“We can take hard decisions in this university, even if the culprits are our friends. That’s why we insist rules must be kept.
“I’ve vowed to rise in defense of my students. I defended my students while at UNIZIK and I will continue here.
“It’s not easy. But our problem is that students refuse to speak until it’s late. But I’ve assured my students that nobody will victimize them. Speak, we’ll protect you”, she assured her students.
