Education

UNN VC allegedly caught in age falsification scandal

Published

5 years ago

August 15, 2019

What could be described as a messy age falsification scandal is currently rocking the once prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) as its new Vice Chancellor, Prof. Charles Arinzechukwu Igwe has been accused of altering his age to enable him qualify to contest for the position after his predecessor, Prof. Ozumba.

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) and the Coalition for Quality Education Sustainability and Leadership Initiative at its recent National Press Conference in Enugu, the Enugu State capital, fingered Prof. Igwe in an age alteration allegation, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately investigate the circumstances surrounding the emergence of Prof. Igwe as Vice Chancellor of the University despite questions about his true age within 14 days.

Giving the background to the scandal, the Executive Director of the CLO, Comrade Ibuchukwu Ezike, flanked by the National Coordinator of the Coalition, Comrade James Ezema, told newsmen that “Most stakeholders in the last 20 years or more have complained bitterly over the decline in the quality of education at the then very prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

“It was such a pride to gain admission into the institution for higher learning that the undergraduates and graduates of the institution boasted with extreme dignity that “There are two universities in Nigeria: University of Nigeria, Nsukka and others”.

“Today, this air of dignity has continued to wane, with the successive Management Team of the institution over the years being blamed for the anomaly”, the groups observed.

The rights groups then recalled that “Recently, the institution embarked on yet another journey to salvage the institution at the expiration of the tenure of the immediate past management team. Consequently, five-man selection committee was constituted by the Governing Council, to select/elect a new Vice-Chancellor for the tertiary institution.

Prof Igwe’s Statutory Age Declaration

“Candidates were shortlisted for in a final list of 15 contenders as we watched with kin interest as the selection committee went about its business. However, as expected in such context, highly placed individuals had put pressure on the committee to ensure the emergence of a particular candidate, who was anointed by the out-gone management team led by Prof. Ozumba. And we believed that the committee was made up of eminent personalities who understood the importance of quality education at a time Nigerian universities are struggling to be numbered among the best in the world.

“Nevertheless, at the end, the rest is history as the incumbent Vice-Chancellor Professor Charles Arinzechukwu Igwe was declared the winner of the contest. And in every contest there must be winners and losers”, they observed.

Speaking on what the organisations described as Matters Arising Requiring Immediate Investigation, the not that the fact they presented, they “discovered that either by omission or commission, the Governing Council’s Selection Committee may have failed to take note of certain details regarding the possible age falsification by the newly selected Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Professor Charles Arinzechukwu Igwe.

“The new Vice-Chancellor, who was Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) during the tenure of the immediate past Management Team of the University had submitted his curriculum vitae, claiming that he was born at Awka, Anambra State of Nigeria on August 23, 1958.

“Whereas a statutory declaration of age on oath in 1974 on behalf of Prof. Charles Igwe by his father, Mr. Wilfred Igwe, a native of Awka in Njikoka of the then East Central State of Nigeria noted that Professor Charles Arinzechukwu Igwe was actually born on August 23, 1955 and not 1958 as claimed by the VC in his document. Here attacked are both documents.

“From the foregoing, there is a high possibility that the New Vice Chancellor may have altered his age at one time or the other for the purpose of avoiding earlier retirement.

“We believe that Mr. Wilfred Igwe as his father, like any other father, is in the best position to give the accurate date of birth for his son.

“We all have our date of births as we were rightly informed by our parents or legal records.

“It is then highly disconcerting that the top manager of a tertiary institution like the University of Nigeria, Nsukka would be fingered in a fraudulent act as disreputable as age falsification. If the head compromises or got enmeshed in this high fraud as this, how can he not compromise in every other aspect of the school management?”, they queried.

Calling for probe of the Vice Chancellor, the Governing Council’s VC Selection Committee Members and the Prof. Igwe by President Muhammadu Buhari on in line with his administration’s anti-graft war, the organisations urged the President “to use his good office to immediately activate relevant security agencies that should investigate the circumstances that led to the alteration of the date of birth of Prof. Charles Igwe to determine his possible culpability in the suspected perjury.

“We also urge Mr. President to unravel the circumstances surrounding the disregard of such obvious fraud by the Governing Council’s VC Selection Committee to ascertain if they just looked the other to pave way for the eventual emergence of the Vice Chancellor as he ought to have been disqualified from the race.

“The University of Nigeria was envisioned by the founding fathers to be an institution that will train Nigerians and foreign students both in character and learning.

“We therefore strongly urge President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that this matter was not swept under the carpet but openly investigated and if found culpable, the current Vice-Chancellor and any other possible collaborator should be made to face the full weight of the law to serve as a harsh deterrence to others within the academic and non-academic institutions in the country.

The Ultimatum

“In the event that no concrete action was taken after 14 days from today, we shall begin the next line of action to compel security agencies to do their job”, the groups warned insisting that the Vice Chancellor would have retired next year if three years were not removed from his real age.

Education

Federal Government Sets To Commence School-To-Work Scheme

Published

3 days ago

May 3, 2024

Alice Ginika Simon

The Federal Government says plans are underway to launch a school-to-work scheme to enable youths to become productive and self-employed.

The Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi disclosed this in Abuja during a meeting with Commissioners of Education, Executive State and FCT Universal Basic Chairmen, Education Boards and UBEC on the School-to-Work Scheme.

Bobboyi in his keynote address, disclosed that the target group for the scheme are learners in the junior secondary schools. He added that it will provide them the opportunity to detect early in life where their talents and potential lie, between academic pursuit and vocational skills development.

Explaining how the Scheme will run, the UBEC Boss stated that it is structured to provide at least six months training, broken into two months per year of study in the junior secondary school.

Also speaking, the Director Basic Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Folake Davies, stated that the Scheme which is inline with the road map policy of the ministry, is designed to provide youths with the requisite experience necessary to excel whenever they find themselves in the working environment.

The Director, who was represented by Rose Onoja stated that only collaborative effort from the Federal, State, and Local Government levels and active involvement from the private sector will make the implementation of the program successful. Liberate actions to mitigate the living conditions of their constituents.

Education

Fake University Degree Holders Soon To Be Fished Out And Arrested – Minister Of Education Announces

Published

1 month ago

April 3, 2024

Alice Ginika Simon

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, on Tuesday, said security agencies will go after individuals with fake university certificates in the country.

According to the minister, the individuals will be tracked after the committee set up by the Federal Government to investigate the activities of university certificate racketeers in the country submits its report.

The Federal Government had set up an Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling to probe the activities of certificate racketeers following an investigative report published by Daily Nigerian which exposed the activities of degree mills in the Benin Republic.

The investigative report, which exposed the illegalities perpetrated by some tertiary institutions in the West African countries, led to the Nigerian government placing a ban on the accreditation and evaluation of degrees from Benin Republic and Togo.

The committee set up by the Federal Government was also tasked with investigating Nigerian private universities established in the last 15 years. Recently, the committee invited memoranda from the public. Selected members of the committee also visited institutions in the Benin Republic.

While speaking at the first quarterly citizens engagement in Abuja on Tuesday, the education minister, Mamman, said;

“On the issue of the fake degrees, we set up a committee and we expect them to submit their reports soon. Once the report is submitted, I can assure you that individuals with fake certificates will be apprehended. They will be tracked by security agencies.”

Also speaking at the engagement, the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, noted that the quarterly citizenship engagement was aimed at creating awareness of the activities of the ministry.

He noted that the engagement would “ also promote mutual understanding with stakeholders and citizens, build and sustain public trust, and improve transparency and accountability in the sector.”

“Worthy of mention is that this engagement also aims to improve efficiency and streamline government operations by identifying and addressing bottlenecks,” Sununu said.

Education

Stakeholders Head To Enugu For First South East Educators Conference

Published

2 months ago

March 16, 2024

Alice Ginika Simon

Stakeholders in the education circle are warming up for the maiden edition of Southeast Educators’ Conference 2024(SEEC’24).

The two-day SEEC’24 scheduled to hold 18th & 19th, April 2024 at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu under theme: Future-‘Focused Learning – Igniting the Competitive Edge’

Promises to host key players in the education sector with a potential attendance of over 500 delegates.
The conference will feature a diverse lineup of speakers, covering topics ranging from holistic learning approaches to cutting-edge technology integration.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Mrs Doris Chinedu-Okoro,CEO, Evergreen Group, said SEEC’24 is the first of its kind in the Southeast region, presenting a historic opportunity for stakeholders to pioneer positive change in the local education sector.
“It brings together diverse perspectives and innovative ideas,fostering collaboration and networking among educators and stakeholders.
Hundreds of delegates will be in attendance.
“SEEC’24 is dedicated to exploring transformative practices, emphasising holistic learning, technology integration, globalcitizenship, life-long learning, and community engagement”, she said.

Mr. Osita Chidioka, the former Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, who recently launched an online mentorship and leadership programme for Nigerian youths named Mekaria Mentorship Programme (MMP) Foundation Course, will deliver the keynote at SEEC’24.

Prof. Pieter Verdegem; Dr. Joy Isa, Mrs. Bukola Adewuiyi, Lady Uju Dike, Fr. John Njorteah, Alex Onyia, Rotimi Eyitayo, Rhoda Odigboh, Elfrida Diete-Spiff Omole, Dr. ChibuezeLawrence Ofobuike, Ify Obidi-Essien, Dr. Abimbola Ogundere, Angelina Ikeako, Odetola Ebenezer Israel and OgochukwuOnyia, are some of the speakers lined up for the event.

The Evergreen Group CEO added that the conference thrives on a vision to create a dynamic platform that equips educators with the tools and knowledge needed to make a lasting impact on the educational landscape of South-Eastern Nigeria.

SEEC’24 is open to School Owners, Heads of Schools (Public and Private), Educational Stakeholders, Counselors, Teachers, Parents, Investors, Startups, and others in the education ecosystem.
“Participants will have the opportunity to engage in two full days of conference sessions, diving deep into the future of Education.
“There will be ample networking opportunities with school leaders from across the geopolitical zone and beyond.
“The evening Gala Night promises a delightful atmosphere for dancing, dining, wining, and fostering deeper connections in a relaxed setting”, she further explained.

Registration is N100,000 via: https://bit.ly/3uTcv9e