Ozumba promises to restore academic excellence at UNN

VICE CHANCELLOR of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba on Monday restated his administration’s commitment to return academic excellence in the institution. He stated that he would raise a working class of patriotic and productive mindset to drive the economic and political advancement of the country and by extension the black world in line with vision of

the institution’s founding fathers.

  He said the administration would continue to key into the culture of the founding fathers, which he described as an “instrument wielded by professors to manufacture professors, who when their time comes, will manufacture professors”, saying this was an academic excellence.

   Addressing a press conference in Enugu  on the 44th Convocation ceremonies of the school, holding on Friday, January 23, Ozumba said about 15,904 graduating students will receive various certificates

during the exercise.

  Of the number, he said a total of 14,015 will be receiving first degree certificates, 1,168 for Masters Degree, 331 doctorates, 177 postgraduate diplomas and 213 diplomas.

  Ozumba, who was flanked by other board and principal members of the institution, added: “All graduating students will collect their certificates during the convocation.” 

   He stated that in line with his personal decision to reward excellence when he took office in June last year, the university would use the occasion of the convocation to confer Professors  Emeriti on two

serving professors of the school. He gave their names as Professor P.N. Okeke of the National Centre for

Basic Space Science and Professor Paul Iwe Akubue, saying they have excelled in their fields of endeavour.

   Ozumba expressed displeasure with the postgraduate students of the university who recently protested the hike in school fees, insisting that the review was management’s action aimed at delivering services to the students. He accused some of the protesting postgraduate students of being

professionals who,  instead of running the 18-month postgraduate programme as required, have turned the school hostels into their homes.

  The Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka will deliver a lecture titled: “Rebuilding the Nigerian Dream: Mapping the building blocks” as part of activities lined up for the convocation.