Confusion in Anambra Varsity over protest as VC says ‘’ There was no protest at Ojukwu varsity

The situation at Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli now is that of confusion as the Vice Chancellor of of the University Prof. Fidelis Uzochukwu Okafor denies protest by students. He said it was erroneous impression to say that students of the university protested over alleged hike in school fees .

Prof.Okafor who spoke with journalists at Igbariam campus of the institution, said the   " students themselves said during an interaction session  that they don’t know what they had protested".

This is even as he said  the institution was lacking infrastructure as students and lecturers do not have class rooms.

" We need hostels. The CBN is building one for us but we need the collaboration of other organizations and philanthropist to build more "


" Some said it was protest against an increase in school fees  which we never did. When they discovered that, they started asking for decrease in school fees.

‘’some others said we intend to close the school portal and that it was too soon when in fact we gave them one month grace after the closing date notified to students.

Some even added complaining that MTN was not available where they are living. All these were the reasons for their protest"

The Vice Chancellor stated the students  were informed that the portal would be closed even as he explained that 
the portal ought to have closed by Dec .18 but was extended to Jan. 26 2015 .

He said those who should have protested were  those who met the increase about three years ago when it was increased.

According to him, "  we found that there was no substantial reason for their protest. The students at Uli campus never raised any voice about it and went about their activities"

" The Students Union Government of the institution never knew anything about the protest, which proves their protest was not genuine and they were used by some people against me.

The students met with the governor who assured them that there was no school fees increase. They were satisfied with the governor’s reaction and pledged to return to campus. I had also had interaction with the students through the various heads of department at Igbariam"

Prof.Okafor  said that the institution has unusually extended the closure of the school portal to March 1, 2015  following the governor’s intervention.

That the tuition is N55, 000 and that is what the university   authority has  to spend, the remaining N60, 000 is for sundry fees spent for the good and benefit of the students themselves adding that the total sum of the school fees is 110 , 000 .

Speaking on the change of the University name from Anambra State University to  Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, the vice chancellor said " 
This university is not the first to do that kind of change, we have many universities named after personalities.

We have Tai Solarin University, Ahmedu Bello University, Alfred Babalolla University, and so many others.
Ours is  Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University "

He said  the university  was named after him because of his role in the life of the Igbo nation and that he was a scholar at Oxford and not just a military officer.

The VC maintained that the old law establishing the university was repealed and replaced with a new provision adding that as  it is now, the institution now has three campuses in Awka, Igbariam and Uli and they all have equal status.

He said the  institution has done well in a world competition organized by the British Society of Engineers and won the first position among all the countries that participated and  that the  singular feat has put the institution  on the  world map.

Prof.Okafor was of the opinion that  the  university is moving ahead as it now produces PH.Ds and has equally  been successful in various accreditation exercises.

He therefore  commended the efforts of the state government in constructing roads within the campuses citing the  ongoing hostel accommodation at Igbariam and the administrative block.

“But we are saying that their presence should be felt the more especially in terms of subventions. Already it is inadequate to pay the salaries of workers and execute programmes. We rely on school fees being paid only once in a year as our only source of income used to complement.