…As VC links enrollment surge to Otti’s education reforms

By Steve Oko

UMUAHIA – Abia State University (ABSU) says it has regained access to Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) research grants after clearing all outstanding retirements tied to previous interventions.

Vice-Chancellor, Ndukwe Okeudo, disclosed this on Tuesday during a pre-convocation press briefing at the university.

He explained that ABSU had earlier been barred from accessing TETFund’s Institution-Based Research (IBR) grants due to failure by past administrations to retire funds received since the programme’s inception.

Okeudo, who assumed office 15 months ago, said the current management had fully cleared the backlog, restoring the institution’s eligibility.

He added that 33 IBR proposals from ABSU have already been approved, with 60 per cent of the first tranche released, while 45 additional proposals are being awaited.

The VC further noted that the university had also resolved issues that led to its suspension from TETFund-sponsored local and international conferences, as well as academic staff training and development programmes.

Highlighting ongoing research strides, he cited projects on the use of medicinal plants in treating cancer, prostate-related ailments and diarrhoea, as well as the production of wines from indigenous fruits.

On academics, Okeudo revealed that eight programmes—including Law, Pharmacy and Mass Communication—recently assessed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) secured full accreditation.

He also announced the introduction of new programmes such as Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, alongside Information and Communication Technology.

The VC attributed a sharp rise in students’ enrollment to education-friendly reforms by Governor Alex Otti, citing key interventions.

These include the renovation of hostels A, B and C; ongoing construction of 5,000-bed hostels for male and female students; a near-completed university pavilion; and a new ultra-modern faculty complex to facilitate the relocation of the faculty from the Umuahia campus to Uturu.

Other interventions, he said, include the clearance of staff promotion arrears, restoration of accreditation for the university teaching hospital in Aba, recruitment approvals to address manpower gaps, a 10-megawatt solar power project, and enhanced campus security.

Okeudo announced that 10,255 students across three academic sets will graduate at the institution’s 30th–32nd combined convocation ceremony scheduled for Friday, March 27.

He added that former Minister of Power, Barth Nnaji, will deliver the pre-convocation lecture on Thursday at the university auditorium.

According to him, honorary doctorate degrees will be conferred on the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Chairman/CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema; and CEO of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Stella Okoli.

The VC, who said he was appointed to reposition the institution after years of deterioration , commended the management team and staff for their support.

He assured that ABSU – ranked second among state universities and 16th overall in Nigeria in the 2025 Webometrics ranking, would witness further transformation in the months ahead.

Principal officers present at the briefing included Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Professor Gazie Okpara; DVC (Administration), Professor Rose Ndimele; and Registrar, Dr Acho Elendu; and Bursar, Mark Amaefula.