ASUU Urges President Tinubu to Intervene in Controversial MOUAU Inaugural Lecture

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing controversy surrounding the institution’s 57th inaugural lecture, set to take place on December 11, 2024. ASUU’s petition raises serious concerns over the academic qualifications of the scheduled lecturer, Professor Raphael Echebiri, and the process by which his promotion was reinstated.

According to the petition, which was signed by ASUU-MOUAU chairperson M. Ugwuene and the union’s secretary E. C. Osodeke, Echebiri’s professorship was originally revoked after being granted during the administration of former Vice Chancellor Professor Hilary Edeoga. However, the current Vice Chancellor, Professor Maduebibisi Iwe, allegedly reinstated Echebiri’s promotion without addressing earlier concerns related to the due process of his elevation.

ASUU pointed to a letter dated August 26, 2024, which was sent to the Vice Chancellor, referencing a report from the MOUAU Visitation Panel. The panel’s findings suggested that the promotion of Professor Echebiri did not follow the proper procedures outlined by the university. ASUU has demanded that the inaugural lecture be cancelled, calling for an end to what they perceive as a breach of academic integrity. The union warned that allowing such actions to stand could potentially harm the university’s reputation and hinder its progress.

In response to these claims, Ubadire Agua, the Head of Public Relations at MOUAU, rejected ASUU’s accusations, stating that the university’s Senate, which includes ASUU members, had approved Professor Echebiri as the inaugural lecturer. Agua defended the Vice Chancellor, asserting that he was committed to fostering peace and ensuring the university’s continued development. He further emphasized that the lecture would proceed as planned, underlining the current atmosphere of peace and progress at the university.

This disagreement has raised alarms about the potential impact of internal disputes on MOUAU’s reputation and governance. The issue has also brought to light broader concerns about transparency, accountability, and the adherence to due process in the academic community, particularly within Nigerian universities.