The Acting Vice Chancellor (VC) of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, says topmost among legacies he want to bequeath in the institution is for graduates of the university to be of high quality.

Onuchuku, who disclosed this in a media briefing in his office to mark his one year in office, said his desire is to ensure that all graduates from IAUE can compete favourably with their peers globally.
“I want to be remembered for ensuring that graduates from this institution are of high quality, and can compete favourably anywhere in the world.
“That the degrees from this University will not be looked down upon anywhere in the world”, he said.
He continued that this aspiration is what has been the driving force behind all the achievements he has recorded so far in his one year in office as Acting VC.
Among such achievements are the establishment of a new academic and special programmes taylored at placing IAUE at par with global standard.
According to him, this is one of the ways tertiary educational institutions around the world attract prospective students.
Part of this, he hinted, has manifested in the creation of a full-fledged Faculty of Agricultural Science from the existing Faculty of Technical and Vocational Studies.
“Nobody can underestimate the importance of Faculty of Agriculture in a State where much of our food supply comes from outside.
“As a university, we have a duty to help change the unacceptable narrative within the shortest possible timeline”, he said.
He said, knowing that students and staff are vital in the quest to build a top notch university, he also have the welfare and security of staff and students priority attention.
This, he said, brought about the first ever Christmas gifts to staff last year, and coming up with students-friendly policies.
Other achievements recorded in his one year in office, he said, include a deliberate campaign against”sorting”, which is a form of gratification from students to gain unmerited grades.
He also established a “Bottled Water Factory” to enhance Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and strengthened community relations and security on campus.
Onuchuku also carried out several renovation works and building of various segments of the campuses of the university: at Ndele and St. John’s Campuses, both of which are outside the main campus in Rumuolmeni.
He used the opportunity to call on students to judiciously use all facilities provided for them in order to earn their stay in the university.

By: Sogbeba Dokubo