By Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN– EXECUTIVE Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie has advised the management of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma to pay attention to the quality of its staffing, facilities and intake of students as well as the environment for effective teaching and learning in the 35-year-old university. Prof Okojie gave the advise while speaking at the 19th convocation ceremony of the university over the weekend.

Represented by Deputy Executive Secretary, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, he urged the institution to judiciously utilise funds released to it through TETFUND just as he insisted that funds from TETFUND should be used to build commodious buildings and invest in research and staff development. Okojie called for the construction of more hostels within the campus through the ‘Build, Operate and Transfer’ system to solve accommodation problems of students.

Warning students to check for approved programmes with the commission before applying to Nigerian universities, Okojie said students that study unapproved programmes would not be mobilised for NYSC and their certificates would not be recognised for the purpose of employment.  His words: “The NUC laments the waning culture of mentorship in the university system and calls on university managers and professors to ensure that this culture is revived and upscaled as a sine qua non for academic integrity.”

On his part, Governor Adams Oshiomhole said the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Cordelia Agbebaku, has turned around the fortunes of the university He said, “I have a fair recollection of the state of this university before Prof. Cordelia took over affairs of the university. The worst critic of this VC will agree that the VC has run this university effectively. Cordelia has given her all to the university that she met with very meager resources.

“Before she took over as the Vice Chancellor, it was either one problem of students’ riot or staff protests, but she has demonstrated uncommon courage, fearlessness, prudence and accountability in managing the University’s fund and brought in so much peace and stability.” Among those honored by the university is Chief David Edebiri, the Esogban of Benin Kingdom who was honored with a Doctor of Letters degree and business mogul, Chief Lee Ikpea who bagged the Doctor of Business Administration degree.

Founder of Believers Love World, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome who was to be honored with a degree of Doctor of Science was absent but a special event would be organised for him at a latter day. A N5bn endowment fund was launched at the ceremony.