– Parleys with heads of tertiary institutions
The Government of His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma has assured that it will reconstitute the Governing Councils of the State owned Tertiary Institutions with aim of repositioning the schools for productivity while also stating that the government’s programs will guarantee qualitative education.
The State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bernard Thompson O lkegwuoha made the disclosure in his Office recently,during his interactive meeting with the Management Staff of the lmo State University, Owerri. He observed that apart from the lmo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, the rest of the tertiary institutions in the state have no Governing Councils.
The Education Commissioner opined that the University was presently an infant while the Government was paternalistic, adding that the Governor had mandated him to inform the University Management to have the mentality of business men and women in order to boost its revenue generation as Government was serious with anything that had to do with revenue.
According to a release signed by the Public Relations Officer of the State Education Ministry, Ofoleta App-Jonnie Marcellean Anayo, the Commissioner, Prof. Ikegwuoha revealed that Governor Uzodinma had directed that the institution articulates whatever it would take to have the accreditation of the College of Medicine and Optometry. He mentioned that the Governor had also directed that immediate changes of the staff of the bursary, exams and records who have stayed more than two (2) years in their positions be carried out. He requested to know what was needed to be done for the College of Education, Ihitte Uboma to be affiliated to Imo State University. The Commissioner urged the IMSU Management to embark on online teaching for Students in view of the COVID-19 lockdown which end is presently unpredictable.
Speaking, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Victoria Adaobi Obasi said the University had a lot of problems and needed money to run its affairs.
The IMSU Vice Chancellor remarked that the University Management had been mandated to make some changes which would be effected. She also mentioned that the New Registrar had signed thousands of Certificates and they were ready for collection. Prof. Obasi informed the Commissioner that the Association of Vice Chancellors requested the institution to key into the e-learning programme.
She appreciated the new lmo government for the opening of drainages and the desilting of gutters in the University which had made it possible for the institution to recover its submerged buildings.
In his vote of thanks, the Public Relations Officer of the University, Nze Ralph Njokuobi, described the Commissioner as “one who knows where the shoes of IMSU pinches”. He thanked him for the show of comradeship and prayed God to bestow wisdom on him to take Education in the State to an enviable height.
Earlier,the Education commissioner,Ikegwuoha had met with managements of;Imo State Polytechnics,Umuagwu,Amaigbo school of Health Technology,Okporo Nursing school,Orlu.The meetings were said to be inline with the government resolve to chart a new course for the educational sector.
