By Ebinum Samuel
Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, AAU is no doubt popular both home and abroad for her academic excellence.
The crème de la crème of our society today such as Mr Tony Elumelu of United Bank of Africa, UBA, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy, Gov. Sheriff Oborovwori of Delta State, Barr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, Hon. Minister of Aviation and many other powerful names that can’t be mentioned here for want of space are all alumni of the great tower of learning.
AAU though being a state-owned university has achieved many academic feats that some federal universities and some privately-owned universities in Nigeria have never dreamt of achieving. Worthy of mention amongst AAU acclaimed laurels are the school’s excellent and brilliant performances back-to-back at the Nigerian Law School and other feats in Economics Department and the Faculty of Engineering?
Sadly, all the aforementioned feats of the institution are gradually turning into “past glory.” Reason being that former Gov Godwin Obaseki failed to continue from where his predecessors stopped in terms of adequate funding of the school and his unfortunate attempt to play politics with the school through the ignoble Special Intervention Team, SIT. SIT was a clog in the wheel of progress of the school. It took back the hand of the clock!
Though this write-up is not an attempt to use AAU’s neglect by Obaseki’s government to rate his performance in office as governor, but truth must be told, trust me, I will score Obaseki’s abysmal handling of AAU 3 on a scale of 1 to 10, if you ask me.
For example, how can a highly educated governor like Obaseki cut down a university’s subvention from #271 million naira Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s government was giving the institution as subvention to a meagre #41 million? That was like taking a fish out of water!
SIT FORMATION
Obaseki seriously goofed regarding the setting up of SIT to oversee the affairs of AAU. That was a draconian move! SIT did more harm than good to AAU.
Despite complaints from members of staff and students of the school regarding (SIT’s) high-handedness, Obaseki never gave a hoot.
Many students and academic staff had to leave the school for other institutions to seek admissions and employments, respectively when there was no end in sight for the disbandment of SIT. They caused many members of staff of the school to dîè for want of money for medical care because they were denied their salaries.
GOV MONDAY OKPEBHOLO COMING INTO THE PICTURE
Although His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has tried his best possible to revive the school from the state of decay he met it, the institution is still wobbling and needs more revival.
Yes, it’s a good thing that Okpebholo jacked up the school’s subvention from the #41 million Obaseki left it to #500 million, but is that enough to advance the course of the school? Nope!
OUR FINDINGS
AAU monthly wage bill is #850 million. That’s to say that the school needs additional #350 million to enable it meet up with its monthly salary obligations.
ARREARS
Arrears owed members of staff of the institution are between six and twelve months. That’s huge!
The school management is seriously struggling to meet up with its salary obligations.
The school is in dire need of about #5 billion grant for the school reawakening. Without “grant” or an upward review of the already increased subvention by Okpebholo, the school will not move forward. I can tell you that for free based on our findings.
STUDENTS ADMISSIONS
Presently, of the six thousand admissions offered by the university management to potential students in this academic session, only about five thousand of them have processed their admissions. Some of the students anonymously told Bendel Gists Blog that the insecurity in Ekpoma and its environs is one of the reasons for the delay in the processing of their admissions.
