Absu Shreds Alaigbo Gazette over Maligned Post against Prof Ikonne.

Abia State University has reacted to the Post Published by Ala Igbo Gazette which attempted to Malign the personality of Absu current Vice Chancellor Prof Uche Ikonne. According to Absu Spokesman Comrade Isreal Ahamefula, He downplayed the Publication stating Facts and Figures about renowned Prof Ikonne ,his achievement in few years in the office. Read the Reply Below

"My attention was drawn to an article credited to one _Ala Igbo Gazette_ titled “A Call to Probe Ikonne before he kills ABSU”.
The article under reference is nothing but a clear hatchet job. Any person who reads the article will not find it hard to decipher the mission.
The post alleges that Distinguished Professor Ikonne has turned Abia State University into a glorified chicken shed. He also alleged that he has rendered the system epileptic, hence an object of ridicule.
He described Prof. Ikonne as inexperienced Vice-Chancellor. Moreso, the article further stated that ABSU under Ikonne, looks like a glorified primary school.
I ordinarily would have ignored the article for what it really is; another fable from the stable of a failed journalist. To do so, however, would have given credence to nonsense.
As a critical stakeholder in the University, it is therefore imperative to address the article under reference issue by issue.

My Dear #AlaIgboGazette, it is quite appropriate to state that you do not know Prof. Ikonne, because if you do, you won’t attempt masturbating in a market place.
To say that Professor Ikonne, a gentle giant, a quintessential model for positive change, patriotism, nationalism, and educational development and erudition, is inexperienced, is a highest joke of the century.

For your information, Professor Ikonne is a perfect example of a silent achiever, fair but firm-minded leader, veritable team player and a visionary university administrator with great potentials, that even as a Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), the then Governor of Abia State, (Senator T.A Orji), sent him on a rescue mission to a devastated Abia State Polytechnic, where He (Professor Ikonne), revived the future of that ailing institution through restoration of moral and academic discipline, prudent and accountable financial disposition that addressed staff salaries and welfare so much that earned him an award of merit by the National Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics.

For Abia State University, his all-round exemplary leadership has become a slogan for success in Abia State and beyond.
This is in line with the core mandate of teaching, research and community service of his “Our Story Must Change Mantra’’.
Again, in pursuit of the core mandate of the university, - Teaching, Research and Community Service, ABSU has become a beehive of research activities with 38 research proposal approved and sponsored by TETFUND, for the first time in its history, ABSU competed and won National Research fund, worth N37 million.
Just recently,another 43 topics have been approved. This feat is unparalleled by any institution in Nigeria.

Under his watch as Vice-Chancellor, staff training and retraining have continued to attract the administration’s prompt attention, while promotion of staff has been regularized.
Students welfare, security and academics are top considerations of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Uche Ikonne, who is widely described as the “Senior Course Rep” of students of the university due to his avowed mandate to shield the students from all forms of extortion, sexual harassment or victimization by unscrupulous staff.

It is on records that Professor Uche Ikonne, inherited the leadership of the university at the national ranking level of 93rd and, within two years of his empirical and exemplary leadership, the university now ranks 30th.
Furthermore, the inaugural lecture series of the university which was at its 19th edition at the inception of Prof Ikonne’s administration, is now 47th, at the last count, in less than four years of his administration.

In a bid to expand the scope of learning, He (Prof. Ikonne) introduced the Faculty of Engineering with the following take-off departments: Computer Engineering, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Surveying & Geo-Informatics, Information & Communication Technology. 

His administration also introduced three additional departments in the faculty of Health sciences viz Public Health, Anatomy; and Physiology. To his credit, he has already matriculated students in the various faculties and departments.
Targeting academic excellence and improving the academic visibility of ABSU, Prof. Ikonne has upgraded and increased its internet visibility so as to expose staff and students to the outside world. 

He has replaced the analog administrative style of the university to digital, introduced a functional, secure, user friendly and richer-in-content University website, geared towards enhancing the profile of the University’s academic and administrative performance.
The fact that there has never been any disruption of academic or social activities of the university through strike or students unrest, since his assumption of office as Vice-Chancellor, eloquently attests to distinguish Professor Ikonne’s leadership, administrative, organizational and economic profile management acumen.

At this juncture, it is wise to inform you (Ala Igbo Gazette}, that a former Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University, Professor Mkpa Agu Mkpa, recently described Abia State University under the tenure of Professor E.Uche Ikonne as “ the Golden era of the University”. Am sure you know what it means?
#AlaIgboGazette, the lucid performance examples of Professor Uche Ikonne as Vice-Chancellor are rather too many for the limited space at my disposal.
It is on that note that I challenge you this day, for a comprehensive tour of Professor Ikonne’s achievements as Vice-Chancellor, Abia State University. Let me also implore you to join me next week, as I publish a work titled “Abia State University: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.
But until then,I implore you as a matter of urgency, to withdraw this false post, and aptly apologize to our Dynamic Vice-Chancellor, Abia State University student, and the community at large for the embarrassment caused them.
To be forewarned is to be forearmed."

You will recall that Prof Ikonne came in as Vice Chancellor by the Fall of September 2015.