Acting Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State owned Ignatius Ajuru University Of Education, Professor Okechukwu Onuchuku has promised to offer his best to the staffs and students of the institution.
In his maiden address titled “Behold the Dawn of A New Era” to staff of the university, Onuchuku reassured his readiness to serve with the best of his ability through inspirational and transformational leadership that would usher in a new dawn that would take the university to greater heights in the academia.
The Acting Vice Chancellor, who declared to the audience that he holds the position in trust for members of the university community, and the government and people of Rivers State, expressed gratitude to God for His abundant mercies and the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, for finding him worthy for the position.
He also paid glowing tribute to the university community for contributing to growing the institution to its present level of academic and infrastructural development, and specifically, acknowledged his predecessor, Professor Ozo-mekuri Ndimele, for the infrastructural development and impressive expansion of academic programmes.
Describing a university as a “work in progress”, he urged members of staff to appreciate the fact that a new era and way of doing things has begun, emphasising that his style of administration would not be the same with that of his predecessors, and pleaded with all men and women of goodwill to work with him in the journey of taking the university to a new destination.
In the same vein, Professor Onuchuku has directed that all school charges be reverted to the old school charges approved by the senate, while indigent students would be allowed to pay their charges in two installments if they are unable to pay once.
In the same way, he directed that the fees portal earlier closed be reopened to enable all returning and extra year students pay their charges and continue with their programmes.
The postgraduate students will also benefit from this generosity. However, he cautioned that the concession should not be abused.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the institution, Comrade Endurance Joseph, his Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) counterpart, Comrade Chisa Egwu, and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) chairperson, Comrade Florence Fiberesima, have pledged to create the enabling environment for the VC, while also demanding for the welfare of their members.
