Governor: I’ll appoint politician as varsity Vice-Chancellor

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has vowed to appoint a politician as the next Vice-Chancellor of the Ebonyi State University in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Nwifuru made the declaration during the inauguration of projects funded by the Tertiary Education Fund (TETFund) in the university on Friday.

Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, a two-term deputy governor of the state, is in his final stint as the university’s Vice-Chancellor.

The governor said Ogbu’s outstanding achievements in office could not have been attained if he did not pass through politics.

He said: “We need someone with the political will and academic structure for the position as people must not show their strength by making noise.

“When we would be appointing the next VC, it will be from the political angle as the university belongs to all of us.

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“A Vice-Chancellor who is a politician can relate with us well and understand the political and administrative aspects to effectively manage the university.”

Governor Nwifuru urged professors seeking to be appointed for the position to cease and concentrate on their academic works.

“I thank my predecessor who appointed Ogbu as the VC as he has ensured that the university progresses beyond bounds,” he added.

The governor, however, thanked the TETFund for instituting the projects which include an Information Communication Technology (ICT), library, and faculty of education complexes.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for allowing him inaugurate the projects on his behalf.

“It is important to appreciate Tinubu’s commitment to develop education in the country since assuming office as the country’s president,” the minister said.

He noted that in recognition of TETFund’s role in the development of public tertiary education and funds intervention, the president approved the upward review of the education tax.

On his part, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, said the three projects were executed under the 2011-15 (merged) annual and 2016-19 (merged) annual interventions.

Echono, who was represented by Buhari Mikailu, said the projects cost N1.5 billion and were executed in line with TETFund guidelines.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Ogbu, thanked TETFund for instituting the projects and pledged that they would be judiciously utilised.

The Star