The administration of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU) is currently evaluating the extent of damage caused by unruly elements during a student protest that occurred on Tuesday.
During a press conference held at the university on Wednesday evening, Vice Chancellor Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe revealed that significant destruction had occurred during what he termed a “riot”.
Professor Iwe announced that the University Senate would convene on Thursday to deliberate on the situation and determine the next course of action.
Contrary to media reports suggesting that he was physically assaulted by students, Professor Iwe clarified that his security personnel intervened to protect him from potential harm during the protest.
He attributed the vandalism to miscreants who he alleged had infiltrated the protest, emphasizing that it was inconceivable that the university’s students would engage in such destructive behavior.
Expressing disappointment, Professor Iwe warned that students who allowed themselves to be manipulated by instigators of the riot would face consequences.
The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the challenges faced by the university, including limited funding, with a monthly overhead of only N9 million against a running cost of N100 million.
Regarding exam fees, Professor Iwe defended the policy of requiring students to settle their charges before sitting for exams, emphasizing the need for financial stability to sustain the institution.
He refuted claims of a 60% fee increase and clarified that biometric verification was implemented to curb exam malpractice and script misplacement.
Despite facing resistance from vested interests, Professor Iwe pledged to uphold integrity and discipline within the university, promising severe sanctions for those compromising standards.
The protest erupted following alleged attempts by the management to restrict students’ access to examination halls, resulting in the torching of several buildings on campus.