The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Federal University Oye-Ekiti in Ekiti State (FUOYE), Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), has said he had dismissed six professors for sexual harassment and other offences.
Additionally, Ndoma-Egba has expressed strong disapproval of university teachers who exploit students by forcing them to purchase handouts, pay for grades, or pay excessive fees for additional academic services.
He revealed that his past experience as Pro-Chancellor at Lokoja University, where he had to let go of six professors, was partly due to similar issues, and he’s committed to taking a firm stance on these matters at his current institution as well.
Fielding questions from newshounds in Calabar on Sunday, Ndoma-Egba cautioned against these drawbacks, saying they seriously compromised academic quality and Nigeria’s educational system.
The former Senate Majority Leader said: “I don’t tolerate this issue of compromising the system to get certificates at all. Our university certificates have to be respected all over the world.
“When I went to Federal University Lokoja, the first thing I did was, in two months, I sacked six professors for sexual harassment. It did not happen while I was there, though. It happened before I went there. They were investigated, but you know how our systems work.
“They tried to protect themselves. I am a lawyer, and we are trained to read from the introduction, facts, and conclusion. So when you have read the facts and they do not tally with the conclusion, then there is something amiss.
“So I told them to take it back and align findings with the conclusion and they had no choice but to go and do the needful. I don’t tolerate such compromise because it degrades the value of the certificate you are holding.”
On the falling standard of education in the country, Ndoma-Egba expressed concern about how children now go to “miracle centres” to write exams and get “As” and “Bs” which they cannot defend.
He expressed worry that the academic system has become so thoroughly compromised in the country.
Ndoma-Egba disclosed that at FUOYE, where he currently serves, JAMB has adjudged it to be the most subscribed by students due to strict academic administration and adherence to the timetable and quality.
“The main reason why FUOYE has become so attractive is because we have not started suffering from these disruptions to calendars or the bad traits.
“In spite of COVID-19 and the prolonged nine months of the ASUU strike that occurred during the same period, our students still graduated on time, and our timetable has become inviolable,” he said.
On the sexual harassment allegation against the Vice-Chancellor of his current school, Ndoma-Egba said: “The issue of sexual harassment is a no-go area for me. If you are caught, I deal with you straightaway. I will do the same if you are caught for sorting.
“The University Governing Council had set up a committee to investigate the matter against the VC. I was told two weeks ago when we had our convocation that the report was ready, but because of the week-long activities of the convocation, we could not take the report.
“So the committee formally asked for an extension of time, which we granted, and I am hoping that we will have an emergency meeting very shortly to consider the report and close that matter.
“I am anxious to close that matter because the university is now being defined by that allegation of sexual harassment rather than its other achievements. We need to put that matter behind us.”
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