RSUOE: Our VC, A Stickler For Due Process – ASUU Chairman

Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Rivers State University of Education, Port Harcourt branch, Dr. Ugochukwu Agi in this interview appraises the nearly five –month reign of the Ag. Vice Chancellor of the new university, Prof. Rosemund Osahogulu and urges her not to be distracted by detractors.

Excerpts:

His achievements:

The emphasis is not individualism. We work as a team. ASUU has been able to redefine unionism. The greatest achievement of the union is that we are now engaged in constructive unionism. The system you find yourself should be better the way you will leave it. We are presently developing a staff lounge at the St. John’s Campus of the University.”

Assessment of the Vice Chancellor:

“For us, she is a great success here because quite a lot has happened in this place. Our college was upgraded to university under her. She has brought discipline into the system. And you know that discipline is what brings about excellence in any system. She has given a direction in lecturing. Cases of indiscipline have been curbed”.

Her most outstanding achievement:

“I don’t think one achievement outweighs the other. But I think that they are all contributing to the success of a system. But she has been able to redefine leadership in an institution of this nature. She is a very quiet achiever because the coming of the university was a surprise to us. We didn’t know that she was working quietly towards it. Her insistence on due process excites me a lot. She is very transparent and you can see through what she is doing”.

Alleged employment scam:

“The employment exercise was conducted under competitive atmosphere and painstakingly done that anybody employed here can be employed in any university in Nigeria. One or two lecturers are not in a position to say something about this place except the union which I represent.

“We want to condemn those who have said negative things about the interviews that ushered them in. They should stop distracting the attention of the VC. The process of employment involves many officials of the school not only the VC. We have encouraged her to  over-look the detractors. If they are not cowards, let them unmask themselves. We should learn to encourage a good leader”.

Assessment of present administration in Rivers State:

“I’ll actually commend Governor Chibuike Amaechi for what he has been able to put in place only few years in office, especially his emphasis on education through the improvement and provision of educational facilities. The government has sent out a large number of Rivers people outside the country to study on scholarship. A lot are also enjoying it here in Nigeria. What we shall encourage him do is to ensure that teachers are regularly retrained to enable them meet the challenges of this century. The teachers should be properly paid to get the best out of them”.

Advice For Nigerian Students:

“Nigerian students should be responsible and look like the students of 1970s and 1980s and know that they are major stakeholders in the Nigerian nation. They should realise that being a student has its responsibilities. They should therefore acquire education and in the process, think what they can do for the nation. I don’t think that violent unionism pays. If you destroy the society, what are you going to lead tomorrow? Above all, students should work hard for their examination grades.

Parents:

“They should ensure that their children have good education and discourage them from examination malpractice and cultism”.

Recent Jos Crisis:

“It is a good city but the herdsmen should respect life. I’m very angry when women are torched. Women are the mothers of the earth”.

Hamilton Amadi