Gov Otti Removes ABSU VC, Bursar, Others In A Major Shake Up

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Abia state Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has removed the Vice Chancellor of the Abia State University, Uturu. Professor Onyemachi Ogbulu.

This is even as the state authorities said the state will be fully involved in the arrangements being put in place to bid final farewell to two  Igbo illustrious sons-Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyinwu and Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.

Addressing the media on the outcome its Executive Council meeting Monday evening October 28, the State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, informed that some  Principal officers of the state-owned University, including the Bursar, were also affected by the managerial change.

He explained that the removal of the erstwhile Vice Chancellor and others are in line with the recommendations of a Visitation panel to the Institution.

The Source reports that Governor Otti, few months after mounting the saddle, constituted a visitation panel to, among other things, come up with ways to reposition the University.

The Panel submitted its report a few months back with the Governor promising to religiously implement its findings.

Consequently, a new Vice Chancellor has been appointed for the institution. He is Prof. Ndukwe Okeudo, who, until his appointment, was with the Federal University of Science and Technology, FUTO, Owerri.

The Commissioner, also, announced Rt Hon Agwu U. Agwu as the new Pro-Chancellor ,with Prof. Catherine Uju Ifejika and Onwubiko Dike as Chancellor, and Governing Council member respectively.

Further speaking, Prince Kanu said the State Government also approved the appointments of two Deputy Vice Chancellors, four members of the University’s Senate ,and a new Bursar.

All the appointments, according to the Commissioner for Information, take effect from November 1,2024

The White paper on the Visitation panel, he said, was adopted and published on October 26, 2024, leading to the changes in the University.

Prince Okey stated that the Panel recommended the investigation of the sacked Vice Chancellor, Prof Ogbulu over his traditional title and payroll admission, as well as other issues.

On the other hand, the Panel, also recommended the withdrawal  of the M.Phil Certificate and the termination of the Doctorate Degree programme of the sacked Bursar Chucks Chikwendu owing to  glaring irregularities.”

The Commissioner noted that, the duo of Chief Iwuanyanwu and Dr Onu who passed on recently, deserve to be accorded due honour and respect for their contributions towards the growth and development of Imo and Abia states,South East ,and Nigeria as a whole.

Chief Iwuanyawu, the immediate past President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo will be buried on November 1, 2024.

Dr Onu, who was the first. civilian Governor of old Abia ,in 1991 will be interred on November 8 2024, at his home town Uburu in Ohaozara Local Council of Ebonyi State.