Management of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, MOUAU, have been urged to deepen the existing relationship with its host communities to foster peaceful coexistence.
Member representing Umuahia South State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Jerry Uzosike, who stated this when he paid a familiarization visit with some community leaders in Umuahia South to the management of the University, disclosed that they came to clarify some issues bodering on mistreatment against their host communities namely, Itu, Umuoparaozara and Amizi villages all in Olokoro clan, Umuahia South Local Government Area.
The lawmaker noted that Umuahia South with particular reference to the above-mentioned villages, donated a greater percentage of their communal land for the establishment of the institution but wondered why they had been marginalized in terms of employment and other inherent benefits they ought to get from the management of the school.
Uzosike further cited that information in the public domain alleged that Abians were the most affected in the recent sack of staff, demotion of lecturers, and the delisting of some courses in the university adding that the situation had left many families devastated and thereby solicit the management to reconsider its decisions and proffer lasting solutions to that effect.
He equally pleaded with the university community to extend its TETFUND projects and development to their host communities with a view to engender peace in the areas.
Responding, the Vice Chancellor of MOUA, Prof. Francis Otunta, explained that the management under his leadership neither sacked any of its employees nor demoted any lecturer but noted that they only suspended some staff whose appointments were not duly processed and some lecturers whose promotions did not follow the standard practice and procedure adding that they had properly scrutinized their documents, conducted fresh interviews on them and had recalled and properly placed many who were successful.
Prof. Otunta who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Prof. Joy Nwabueze, further disclosed that some of the courses that were delisted from the school curricula was a directive from the policy makers, the National Universities Commission, urging them to return back to the original purpose for which the institution was established which is agricultural oriented courses.
He maintained that the university management had always carried their host communities along in the scheme of things and pointed out that their greviances should be channelled to their representatives who interface with the school management.
While appreciating the lawmaker and his team for their visit to the school, the Vice Chancellor, however, expressed confidence that their visit would consolidate the existing relationship between them and their landlords.
In a vote of thanks, the former Chairman of Umuahia South Local Government Council and the General Manager of Abia Hotels, Barr. Randy Ukanwoke, thanked the Vice Chancellor for elucidating on some issues that prompted their visit which according to him has armed them with first-hand information and further assured that they will do the needful by informing their people accordingly.
High point of the visit was induction of Hon.Uzosike and his delegation as friends of the institution.
Uzosike was accompanied on the visit by erstwhile Umuahia South Local Government Council Chairmen, Barr. Randy Ukanwoke, Deacon Charles Ekwueme, Presidents General of Itu, Umuoparaozara, and Amizi communities in Olokoro, among others while top management officials of the institution were present in their full capacity.
