Interview with UNIZIK VC: Prof Ahaenku explodes, set to host 2015 convocation for old and graduating students

www.odogwublog.com brigs you the explosive interview Prof Joseph Ahaneku , Vice Chancellor Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka granted …………..
Q- sir, the first promotion done under your administration, which was due by October 2014 came in good time unlike what obtained in previous years. How come?

Ans- Recall that during the first interaction of this administration with UNIZIK staff, I informed that hard work will be rewarded. UNIZIK staff were called upon to rededicate themselves to duty, embrace commitment, good ideals and be focused in their services to the Institution.

I have been in the system for quite a long time and I know where the bottle necks are and as such I know how to overcome most of them. All Units were informed last year by the Promotions Appraisal Committee to bring up appraisal matters on time as the administration has decided that it was useless waiting for arears when due process can be followed if all concerned do their part in good time. All Units who brought up their promotion issues on time as advised were promoted accordingly without delay. And we promise that this tradition will continue in the years ahead.

Q- Work has started in earnest on the road to the beautiful gate, what do you have to say about that?

Ans- The beautiful gate is the welcome gate to the University. I want to thank the Anambra State Governor, Chief Dr. Willie Obiano for his support and his predecessor Mr. Peter Obi for donating the sum of one hundred million Naira for the road rehabilitation. We want to reconstruct the road to give it a befitting look and a new look to the University. We matched the fund given to us by Anambra State Government with our own development fund in order to give it a befitting touch, both aesthetic features and deserved material enforcement. We are going to make sure we conclude it in this dry season, before the rains come heavily.

Q- A little while ago, you promised that your administration will install more Sports Structures (Courts, Indoor Sports Complex etc) within the Campus.

Ans- Sports and sports engagement are issues I cherish very well. Sports is a strong passion in my life and I know the youth need structures like that to keep them reasonably engaged and off evil vices.

Considering the population of students on this Campus, such sports structures are needed. The young should also be allowed to excel in sports as well as academics. Presently, we have put up adverts to that effect and we have received TETFUND intervention fund from the Federal Government which will go a long way in starting work in the area of sports structures. These will provide facilities for staff and students to discover their talents.

Q- Prof, will there be Convocation Ceremonies in UNIZIK this year 2015?

Ans- Yes, there will be Convocation Ceremonies towards the end of the year. Preparation is already on with the Constitution of all relevant committees, gathering data, compiling and computing results. Efforts are on ground to put all necessary instruments and documentation needed on ground. The Convocation Committee will soon be inaugurated.

I believe Convocation should be an annual event like matriculation. You usher the students in and welcome them through matriculation, the ones leaving should also be bid farewell as they leave, not years after they have left. This administration hopes to make Convocation a more consistent event than it used to be.

Q- Sir, this will be your first Convocation as VC, what do you have to say to that effect? What are we to expect?

Ans- Let’s wait and see!

Q- Digressing a little Sir, why give screening exam for CEP? Is it an NUC mandate or the internal decision of UNIZIK?

Ans- It is a UNIZIK Management decision to define our standard and screen the best of the lot. Universities all over the world define their standards. Graduates of UNIZIK carry the same certificate, so why give a lower standard at the point of entry for CEP. This screening exercise makes it more authentic, more professional and academic. In the past people began to think that CEP was for idle lazy people who only had to present their O’ Levels to be admitted. But it behoves us to right that wrong impression by selecting the best trainable candidates for the trainers. It is important for us to be sure that these ones who we admit will stay in school and complete their programme, some abandon their programmes half way in the past because they got it on a platter of gold and so they commonize the admission. UNIZIK does not need unteachable and unnecessary nuisances. We need to select the right people who really need the degree they came to study for and not people who will while away their time.

There was also very high subscription for UNIZIK CEP and as NUC had stipulated that only a certain percentage of the regular students should be taken, we had to do a thorough and fair screening so that no one will feel left out or cheated.

Q- Sir, you always speak about University Culture, zero tolerance for malpractice of all kinds.

Ans- This administration will celebrate excellence and hardwork and will not hesitate to punish those who will want to tarnish the good image of this Institution. Our watch word remains Excellence, Discipline, so it is zero tolerance to indiscipline.

It is our decision to clean up all units, departments, faculties of those who diminish the reputation of this University. We have commenced and we will not stop at that. We are ready to resist anybody who wants to give the University a bad name. We must uphold the good legacy of our founding father Great Zik of Africa, the Owelle of Onitsha whose name the University is named after.

This is a University where certificate is earned and staff are advised to live above board. Even our students should watch it and not fall foul of our high standards. The bad eggs on all sides cannot be hidden for long; their stench will definitely give them away.

Q- Sir, what do you see as you look into the future? Four years from now, what do you hope to leave as a legacy in UNIZIK after five years?

Ans- My dream and vision is to leave UNIZIK as a University where students will pass through and be job creators, not job seekers. To leave a work force of conscientious, disciplined, hard working men and women. To produce professionals who need not to be ashamed but who will distinguish themselves and be the best in what they’ve been trained to be no matter the area. To enshrine and maintain good academic culture, good academic standing, optimize our activities, to provide facilities for both staff and students to discover the best in them, talents, skills, crafts. To practice what we teach/preach, from UNIZIK we can turn around our nation’s economy by putting down in practical terms what we have in our heads, attach price tags to what we have put together, take the lead in driving industrialization, technological advancement and entrepreneurship. As we achieve this, we will help in removing our nation from being a bursary nation (supported by others), from being a consumer nation to a strong economic stakeholder in the world. These are what I believe and see of UNIZIK in the next few years. I see a UNIZIK that will be the focal and starting point where the economic and industrial emancipation of the nation and Africa in general may take off.