By Peter Dibia (08137847696)
To who much is given, much is always expected from him.
The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, has been commended for appointing a respected and a topnotch, Prof Peter Akah, as the new vice Chancellor of Imo State University, Owerri to replace the former Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Adaobi Obasi .
Investigation revealed that Professor Peter Achunike Akah obtained a doctorate degree (PhD Pharmacology) from the University of Ibadan, in 1984. He joined the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as a Faculty member in October 1984 and was promoted to the rank of Professor of Pharmacology in October 1995. He was many times the Head of Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and the former Associate Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies and Dean Student Affairs UNN.
He has been a permanent member of the Senate of UNN since 1995 and a member of many faculties and university committees.
He is also an adjunct professor and Head Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Imo State University since 2006. One time Visiting Professor at the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Abuja, (1994-2000).
Akah has also served as an adjunct professor of Pharmacology at the University of Uyo, Akwaibom State and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, as well as a Consultant Pharmacologist to UNDP, NIPRD and NAFDAC.
He has published more than 200 papers and 5 books and 21 book chapters in his subject area, and has presented more than 50 papers in many national and international conferences.
He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Medicinal Plants Research (JMPR), African Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (AJOPRED) and Continental Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (CJPS). He is a member of the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) and a Fellow of the Academy of Science (FAS). He belongs to many learned scientific and professional associations.
Indeed, the decision of the Governor to bring an outsider to be the VC of IMSU, is a good decision in a right direction following the Governor’s commitment to restore the lost glory of the institution and the recommendation of Prof Chinedu Nebo panel’s reports.
Imo State University, Owerri is the first State University in Imo State and as such should be given priority in order to meet up the international standard, while focusing on offering quality education to students, that will help the students to measure up well in all their life endeavors after graduating from the institutions.
Having x- rayed the above points, Imo State University, Owerri, being the only State University in Imo State, should be purged or cleansed of its debilitating debris before the governor’s effort to revamp the institution will yield positive result. Prof. That should be your focus for now, please do not disappoint our expectations but I know God will surely guide and protect you.
If we must grow beyond poor level in education in Imo state, we must as a matter of fact invest so much in education. In Imo state there are well established schools: two federal universities namely, Federal Polytechnic, Nekende, Owerri, Federal School of Science and Technology, Imo State University Owerri , Imo State School of Public Health Nursing/CHO, Owerri, Imo State College of Health, Umuagwo, College of Health Obowo, school of Nursing and Midwifery, Aboh Mbaise. These schools in one way or the other have contributed massively to the education of Imo people and beyond.
Sometimes last year, the governor of Imo State, said education sector in Imo State will be revamped which was going to be a win win system where parents, students and government will enjoy good, quality education at affordable price. This only made me to return home that day but happy. But your excellency, remember, you don’t put a new wine inside an old bottle, because the test of it will test just like that of the old wine, but today there is joy in IMSU community over the appointment of Prof. Peter Akah as the first ever Vice Chancellor that came from outside IMSU.
If the revamping of IMSU will be possible, Prof Peter Akah, there is need for total purging and sanitization of the school system just like the recommendation of the Prof Chinedu Nbuo visiting panel.
My New Vice Chancellor, Sir, I want to remind you that the purpose of your coming to IMSU is to help revamp the decayed education system in the citadel of learning. I know by now, some people are already calling you introducing themselves to you as this and that, do not mind them for we all know what they want.
It is pertinent for you to bear this mind, that your stay in that school will not be easy but just like God told Paul that his grace is sufficient unto him, am also repeating the same to you, the grace of God will be sufficient unto you and you have no option then to succeed but avoid bad advisers for they are many in that school.
Sir, it might interest you to know that, sometime in 2018 some IMSU students were sent back to the school from NYSC across the federation as a result of fake statement of results while the school tagged it temporary result. Such ill made NYSC to suspend the school for going to service the next year. I have no doubt that your coming will aid in the revamping of the decayed educational system in the university.
But Prof there are things I would like you to know, yes IMSU was said to be running free education, but students pay alot of fees in the institution which when looked at it critically, one can say there is no free education in IMSU.
Another things I will like you to also note as x- rayed in Prof Chinedu Nebo Panel Reports are falsified age claim, need for ICT compliant personnel, especially by the principal officers, digitalization of the Institution, succession based on academic excellence and passion to deliver rather than being parasitic to the school, implementation of summary petitions, and shortfalls in school fees collected from students.
Others include mismanagement of the Bursary Department coupled with unchecked loss in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), lack of knowledge of the exact number of students, over bloated salaries of some workers, need for forensic audit etc., to properly reposition the University.
Apart from the above, Prof it will also interest you that, there are some students who are still in school after their 3 years of graduation as a result of the way their departments are run.
For instance, in my investigation, I learnt that , 2019 graduate of mathematics and statistics in Imsu are yet to defend their project let alone their results being submitted to senate for signing. Imagine such a thing. They are their frustrating students , Prof. Please some thing need to be done in this department.
I recommend my VC , you bring some well known professors from other schools to help transform these departments. Some of these departments needs new heads of department to help you revamp and change the face of the institution are mathematics, statistics, computer science, business faculties just to mention a few.
Most of the lecturers who are supposed to be promoted are not promoted. Politics has taking the school system backwards. As lecturers who started from graduate assistant after some years are expected to move from assistant lecturer to lecturer 2 then to lecturer 1, senior lecturer to professors.
But many promotions were seated upon by the past administration. I remember during My predigree days, I usually see students being afraid of examination misconduct form but all those ethics have been swept under the carpet. No more discipline. Yes, I am not saying that there are no good students or lecturers but the corruption in the school system is much and as such needs an urgent attention and total cleansing.
If the revamping of the school will be possible, your Execellency you need to consider carefully all the Prof Chinedu Nnebuo led Panel Report not in the area of Vice Chancellorship only but in the other areas.
