The Commissioner for Tertiary Education in Abia State Professor Uche Eme-Uche has described the Governing Council of Abia State University, Uturu as unique considering the personalities that make up the Council.
Professor Eme-Uche made this assertion during a 2-day retreat organized for the newly constituted Governing Council and Management of Abia State University held at Aguiyi Ironsi Conference Hall, Umuahia.
The Theme of the retreat is ” Building The New Abia State University of Our Dream Through Excellence and Service: The Governing Council Approach
According to her ,the Governing Council was not a regular Governing Council where politicians and emergency contractors meet to make decisions and take actions that contradict the intentions of the founders of the University which led to the decay the University witnessed in the past.
She emphasized that Governing Council plays a crucial role in the transformation of any University, adding that for Abia State University to become a world class institution that is globally competitive there was need for visionary leadership, sound policies, and collaborative engagement with the Management, Government and all other stakeholders that will steer the institution toward greater heights.
The Tertiary Education Commissioner appealed to the organizers of the retreat to interrogate the power relations between the Council, and the University management while setting distinction between the functions of the Governing Council and sets limits as there is need to manage the intercourse between the Council , Management and its obligations.
Professor Eme-Uche while appreciating the Governor Dr Alex Otti, for his vision in Education which led to the allocation of 20% of the 2024 and 2025 budgets to education affirmed that the recommendation of the visitation panel on a single campus for Abia State University is on course as the Governor has taken a concrete actions to ensure seamless implementation of the policy.
It could be recalled that Government white Paper on the Visitation Panel upheld the recommendation of a Single Campus System.
Earlier in his remarks, the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University, Rt. Hon. Agwu U. Agwu, emphasized that the retreat would afford participants an opportunity to brainstorm and proffer solution to critical issues affecting the University and usher her into a 21st century global compliant institution.
In his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor of ABSU, Prof. Ndukwe Okeudo ,extolled the commitment of the Governor to transforming the education sector in Abia State as demonstrated in the budgetary allocation of 20% to education in 2024 & 2025.
