By: GELE AGBAI
All is set for the eighth convocation ceremony of Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at the institution’s main campus in Owerri.
More than 500 graduands are billed to take part in the convocation with about 30 bagging first class.
The Vice Chancellor (VC) of the university, Professor Uchefula Ugonna Chukwumaeze disclosed this on Wednesday, February 1 while briefing newsmen at the Senate Building of the institution.
Prof Chukwumaeze, SAN said the university prides its certificate more highly than any other thing, describing it as the most potent weapon of the institution.
According to him, all the graduands had been certified excellent in character and learning culminating in the university releasing them to the society to contribute their quotas to human development.
The Vice Chancellor boasted that products of the university are doing well not just in the country but also outside our shores.
He said; “We can’t graduate somebody who is not worthy in character and learning. Once there is a prima facie case, we suspend the lecturer while investigation goes on.
“Sorting no longer exists at IMSU. We have designated every Wednesday from 12:00noon to 4:00pm for fellowship”.
The VC disclosed that IMSU is among the few universities with no incidence of cultism, adding that the management does not compromise on security and safety of its students and members of staff.
According to him, the adequate security arrangement coupled with the discipline inculcated in the students of the university has given rise to zero-student unrest in the institution.
He listed his achievements since coming on board on March 1, 2021 as VC to include enthroning neatness on campus, improving the physical infrastructure and encouraging staff development through participation in workshops both locally and internationally.
He disclosed that under his watch, TETfund had approved the construction of two new faculty buildings while Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) had approved the construction of internal roads in the university.
Prof Chukwumaeze further disclosed that his administration reroofed some buildings which were de-roofed by windstorm and re-secured accreditation for the university’s College of Medicine.
The VC said his administration has also upgraded the university’s Medical Centre and attributed his litany of achievements to fiscal discipline and the support of the Visitor and Governor of the state, Senator Hope Uzodimma to the institution.
He added that part of the fiscal discipline of his administration is to retire monthly running cost to the Pro-Chancellor of the institution, pointing out that an email system introduced by his administration ensures students lodge complaints anonymously against any erring officials.
Prof Chukwumaeze further disclosed that results of examinations at the university now take a maximum of eight weeks to be released unlike what obtained in the past when results could be held indefinitely or got missing.
The VC denied that the university has jerked up its fees, saying there is no iota of truth in the report which has gone viral in the social media.
He said; Increment of school fees is a blatant lie. Increment is done before resumption of first semester. We have since completed our first semester. The liar forgot to mention that we also run post-graduate programmes. Again, it is the council that raises fees. It is not the registrar or the VC that does that’.
The VC insisted that fees payable at the university remain the lowest compared to other institutions of its cadre.
In his remarks, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Chigboo Ajaero urged wealthy indigenes of the state to assist the university like their counterparts do in the South West and Northern parts of the country.
According to Prof Ajaero, Imolites should own the university by donating buildings and other facilities like the former Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Coomassie and Chief Clement Owunna did.
, Owerri on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at the institution’s main){kind=link}