The Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Prof. Kate Omenugha, has defended the dismissal of five lecturers over alleged misconduct, rejecting corruption allegations levelled against her administration.
The university management last month announced the dismissal of five senior lecturers from various departments and faculties over offences including sexual harassment and dereliction of duty.
Following their dismissal, some of the affected lecturers accused the university management of corruption and declining academic standards.
Responding during a press conference on Thursday, Omenugha dismissed the allegations as false, describing them as an attempt by the dismissed lecturers to divert attention from the reasons for their dismissal.
She said: “I should be commended for doing what I did, and not vilification. Take things like sexual molestation of students by lecturers for example, these things have been happening under previous administrations and no one could stop them, but when I came in, I said no.
“You cannot be instilling fear in the students that are put under your care. If you molest my students sexually, I will rise up and fight you. So, no matter what they are saying, I must let them know that I will never tolerate it.
“No one can vilify me for sanctioning erring lecturers. By the way, I expect to be praised and commended for standing up to these lecturers than be vilified. No one can vilify me for sanctioning erring lecturers in this institution.”
She alleged that sexually explicit videos involving some of the dismissed lecturers had circulated online, while several female students testified that they had been subjected to sexual exploitation, despite claims by the affected lecturers that the videos were generated using artificial intelligence.
Earlier, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Harrison Madubueze, took journalists on a tour of projects executed by the Vice Chancellor, including those funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Friends of the University initiative.
Omenugha said her development plans were designed to benefit the institution beyond her tenure, adding that future administrations would enjoy the full impact of the projects.
She also disclosed that a committee had been established to hear appeals from the dismissed lecturers and provide them with an opportunity to challenge the allegations against them.
David-Chyddy Eleke
