Prof Godwin Onu-Adjunct Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration /Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies, CPGS, Paul University, has called for total overhaul of the University so as to achieve quality educational standard.
Onu made the call shortly after the 4th convocation ceremony of the Paul University where 383 persons were graduated in Awka
He said that the university needs huge funding to make the institution meet the expected academic success of a well-equipped school.
He said that lots of challenges are being faced by the school ranging from poor funding, lack of salary payment amongst other pressing issues has hindered the growth of university education.
Onu said that he was happy that the school has been handled over to Awka Diocese to manage and hope it will be well orgainsed by Awka Diocese as manger.
“St Paul university create in 1904 to be managed by 55 Anglican diocese but it was not possible due to lack of fund from the dioceses .
” To avoid rustic relationship between the management and staff there is need to create enviable educational environments through creative minds,” he said.
Onu said that the overhaul should be from the cleaner, the smallest person in the institution to the Vice Chancellor, the highest person and be based on competent and not on filial relationship.
He said that if appointment is based on competent and creativity and is well funded to reinvent the university to place it in educational map the success will be great.
He said that the university needs to be overhauled so as to create a more bright future for the university which was created since 1904 and has nothing much to show for it.
“The school is not a young,the environment do not befit the place due to challenges of lack of funding.
“ I am here because of the command given to me by the founder late Archbishop Maxell Anikwenwa, who mandated me to put in my best to sustain the goal and mission of the school.
“ I am happy now the school have been handed over to Awka Diocese, since the 55 diocese failed to sustain it, is for Awka diocese to employ capable hands to make a difference and place the school in educational height”he said.
Speaking the Vice Chancellor and chairman of Senate, Prof Obiora Nwosu, said on assumption of office it was as if “Giant” had fallen asleep, a largely demoralised university staff community became part of the history.
Nwsou said that many years of accumulated salary arrears, strike actions by the staff became culture of the university staff community with student population of about 300 in all with staff population of 244.
He said that out of 19 courses run in the university, the courses that needed re accreditation were 15 in number and the new management with the support of the university authority encouraged themselves.
” with limited information available assisted with the experts assembled by the university authority the problems was discovered.
“low students intake and population ,over staffing of the university ,absence of hot in demand courses, postgraduate, continuing education.
“failure to tap into current trend of entrepreneurial ventures, operations not strictly guided by budget and budgetary discipline amongst others hindered the success of the school,” he said.
Nwosu said that the story has changed with the new hands that came on board with the help of the Primate of Church of all Nigeria, and other key stakeholders who waded in.
“re accreditation of the 15 academic programmers was achieved in December 2021,today 7 faculties namely Natural and Applied sciences, Management and Social Sciences. Arts, Law, Education, Basic Medical Sciences are all functional in the school.
“I have to commend Prof Stella Okunna,the DVC Academics prof Carol Umeobi, the Dean of Law and legal Adviser Paul university , Prof Godwin Onu-Adjunct DVC Administration/Provost CPGS,with the creative mind set of these academic guru the school is better placed,”Nwosu said.
Nwosu said that 383 persons were graduate with 14 persons coming out in first class honours,144 graduates with 2nd class upper,188 persons with 2nd class lower, 24 persons graduates with third class honours and 13 persons graduated with Diploma.
He said that the population of the students has risen from 300 in 2021 to 955 in 2023 and sees a very bright future for Paul university under the present team and assures that era of going to strike is over and appeal to parents to send in their children to the university.
