I left the university system better, says Okojie

The immediate past Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, has said he left the university system better than it was 10 years ago.

Speaking yesterday at a brief handover ceremony in Abuja, Okojie who came into the commission as a visiting professor in 2002 before becoming its chief executive attributed his achievements to teamwork.

He, therefore, thanked the directors,
stakeholders and the media for the support he received during his tenure.

Okojie said he had been driven by the fear of God and love for neighbour, enjoiniing the new Acting Executive Secretary, Professor Chinedu Mafiana and his team to steer the wheel of the university system with courage.

Alvan Ikoku FCE shut down over students’ protest

The management of Alvan Ikoku Federal Collage of Education, Owerri, has announced the indefinite closure of the institution following a protest by the students on Monday.

The provost of the institution, Dr Blessing Ijeoma, confirmed the closure.

She said that the management issued the directive after the students destroyed the institution’s administrative block and about nine government vehicles.

“We have approved an indefinite closure of AICE following today’s students’ protest and we have directed that every student should vacate the school premises,” she said.

Students of AIFCE staged a violent protest against the management of the institution over the hike in both tuition and acceptance fees.

The students said that management decided to increase the acceptance fee from N10,000 to N30,000 without consultation.

They also alleged that the management raised the school fees from N30,000 to N70,000.

The students said the essence of the protest was to draw the attention of management to their plight.

However, the provost said the students’ claims were baseless and added that hoodlums seized the opportunity to cart away valuables, such as computers, from the ICT centre.

NAN