Prof Ikonne's 4 years in Office ; Ahamefula writes.

The award winning Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Eminent

Professor E. Uche Ikonne was four years into his five years tenure on the

1st of December 2019. He assumed office formally as the 7 th substantive

Vice Chancellor of the University on the 1st of December 2015.

Unarguably, Abia State University, has had its best days since

establishment in the last four years of Prof. Ikonne’s administration. It’s

almost or impossible to think of any aspect of the University that has not

developed rapidly since he came on board.

Renowned for his charismatic leadership style which involves blowing hot

and cold depending on which strategy best suits what he intends to

achieve, Ikonne has successfully taken ABSU from analog generation

University to a fast rising 21st century institution.

Despite assuming office at a time the nation was going through one of her

worst recessions of all times, Professor Ikonne has been phenomenal. He

is leaving indelible marks in the areas of infrastructure and

development, programmes expansion, security, among others. Gradually,

the university is becoming a huge construction site.

It’s on record that no Vice Chancellor in the over 39 years lifespan of the

institution has completed or come close to completing more capital projects

than Prof. Ikonne. In terms of curriculum offerings, it’s also the same. He

holds the record as the VC who has established more programmes to meet

the contemporary labour demands than any other in the history of the

University.

Interestingly, the profile of the University, nationally and internationally, is

rising radically. ABSU, like the Association of African Universities extolled

sometime last year has become not just a national pride but a global brand.

The days when ABSU was dismissed with a wave of hand are over as

students and products of the University have taken the National and

International community by storm. It wasn’t long ago that students from the

University won the champion of the 2019 All Nigerian Universities Debating

Championship held at the University of Calabar, Cross River State.

Similarly, the University also fielded students that represented Nigeria at

the Pan African debating championship in Ghana.

At this juncture, it is imperative to note that ABSU held her first ever alumni

convocation after over 36 years under the Ikonne’s administration. Many

former Vice Chancellors tried to unite the alumni and got frustrated at some

point, but Professor Ikonne, a foresight leader, who sees impossibility as

illusion took up the challenge and today, the alumni association of the

University has received a formidable support from the incumbent

administration of the University, which has in return placed the activities of

the association on a smooth sail.

Similarly, he initiated the first ever Eminent Persons lectures series of the

university, to proffer solutions to the societal problems thereby contributing

to the socio-political and economic development of the Nation and the

society at large, as well as organized the first Igbo Cultural festival in the

university, to give impetus to the promotion of Igbo Culture and Tradition.

No wonder the 5 th Substantive Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University,

Professor Mkpa Agu Mkpa described the University under the tenure of

Professor E. Uche Ikonne as “the golden era of the University”.

Below is an attempt to highlight some of his achievements under different

units of the University represented in themes. This is not comprehensive

because it’s too difficult to put together all the numerous things he has

done in such a short period in this epistle:

EXPANSION OF INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT:

CONSTRUCTION, SUPPLIES AND REHABILITATION

•Renovation of the Senate Building of the University to international

standard.

•Renovation of the Vice-Chancellors Official Residence (Ebenezer Lodge)

•Completion of renovation work in all students Emergency Hostel, including

Sam Mbakwe hostel in Uturu Location.

•Completion and Habitation of Algon Hostel, which was started in 2002 but

later abandoned.

•Construction and renovation of hostels and classroom buildings in

Umuahia location of the university.

•Construction of Medical Students Hostel.

•Construction of Pathology laboratory for the departments of Microbiology,

Chemical Pathology, Hematology, Pharmacology and so on.

•Procurement and installation of a brand new 65KVA generating set for

students hostel in Aba location of the university.

•Construction of ultramodern 300 capacity hostel (New Hostel) in Uturu

location.

•Renovation of Biochemistry department laboratory.

•Renovation of Microbiology department laboratory.

• Relocation of the faculty of Law to a more conducive environment at the

state capital, Umuahia.

• Construction of Public health department laboratory.

•Establishment of an Accounting Laboratory in the Department of

Accountancy.

•Connection of the university to national electricity power. (National Grid)

• Supply of library books to faculties.

• Supply of 2000 lecture theatre seats with swivel writing pads.

• Supply of (500) 8-spring double bunk beds and (3000) 8-spring

mattresses.

•Procurement of (1) 40-seater bus (2) Toyota Hilux and (1) Hiace bus.

•Construction and equipping of Faculty of Engineering

Laboratory/Workshop.

•Construction of e-library for the faculty of Law.

• Construction of ultra-modern laboratories for the college of Medicine, Aba.

• Refurbishing and completion of abandoned building for department of

Fine Arts and Mass Communication.

• Attraction of the New Students Union Government Secretariat Complex

built and donated by the Governor, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, PhD.

•Attraction of ninie (9) brand new vehicles from the Governor of Abia State

for the Provost, & Deans of Faculty.

•Attraction of the ongoing 40bedroom ABSU ALUMNI Guest House at

Uturu location of the University, etc.

SECURITY

• Improved Security on Campus by prioritizing the training and retraining of

personnel.

• The issue of acute shortage of security personnel is being addressed with

the recruitment of competent personnel.

• Provision of serviceable patrol vehicles mounted with relevant security

accessories/equipments.

• Launching of new security outfit.

• Re-enforcement of internal security with the introduction of joint patrol

security team.

• Securing approval for the establishment of a military security post at the

up-gate side of the university to checkmate violent crimes on campus and

its environs.

• Unprecedented promotion of security staff.

• Special promotion of security staff who exhibited extra-ordinary gallantry

in the execution of their duty.

Alumni Relations 

Professor Ikonne has established a robust relationship with the University

Alumni Association that led to the:

• Inauguration of the United Kingdom and United State branches of the

university by the Vice-Chancellor.

• Donation of 94 (Ninety-Four) sets of modern all-in-one computers.

• Renovation and furnishing of over 4 departmental libraries and

conference rooms, donation of books, hospital and laboratory equipment,

endowment of awards and prices for best graduating student in various

discipline by the alumni.

• Construction of Frank Akpuaka Students Center.

• Ongoing construction of a 20-bedroom ABSU-ALUMNI Guest House and

the construction of ultra 40 bedroom Postgraduate Hostel.

CURRICULUM OFFERINGS/ACADEMIC VISIBILITY

• Expansion of the academic curricula by the introduction of new and

marketable programmes like Pharmacy, Public Health, Mechanical

Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering,

Computer Engineering, Surveying and Geo-informatics, Anatomy,

Physiology, Information Communication and Technology.

•Revived the Center for Igbo Studies with the hosting of the first ABSU

Cultural Day and Hosting of a National Conference of the Igbos since 1970.

• Increased the number of faculties from 10-14.

• Increased the quota for Admission given by JAMB.

• A hundred percent accreditation of programmes by the National

Universities Commission (NUC).

• Establishment of a ranking and visibility committee.

• Establishment of the Directorate of Law and Justice.

• Establishment of the university Book House, where printed materials for

students receive approval by the Book Review Committee. Each Material,

when printed is sold at the Book House at an agreed cost, with the author

receiving his/her royalty. This, among other benefits help to preserve and

enhance the prestige of the teaching staff.

•Setting up a Quality Assurance & Ethics Committee which acts as the

"Ombudsman" of the University to ensure quality teaching and highly

improved service delivery by all categories of staff.

Improved Academic discipline, prompt online registration of courses and

release of student examination results.

•Re-Organized the university outreach programmes (Institute for Distance

Education (IDEA) and (Sandwich) for greater efficiency and setting up the

Institute for Continuing Education (ICE).

SUSTENANCE OF EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING, LEARNING AND

RESEARCH

• Sustained increase in the tempo of academic activities like Faculty

conferences, public lectures, departmental lectures.

•Established a robust research-oriented administration with professors

leading several research teams.

•Introduction of functional website for the university, e-senate, and the

establishment of online transcript unit.

•Provision of functional work station in all Faculties and Departments.

• Rekindled the moribund inaugural lecture series of the university, by

having 35 Inaugural lectures and one special lecture, as against nineteen

(19) Lectures in 35 years of the existence of the University in less than 5

years (1981-2020)

• Attracted the Sponsorship of 38 research topics by TETFund at the

inception of his administration in 2016 and 43 topics in 2019, which has

made the university a beehive of research activities.

STAFF AND STUDENTS WELFARE

• Prompt payment of staff salaries and pensions.

• Regular promotion of staff.

• Uninterrupted peace and stability on campus attributed to proactive

interaction with students.

• Unprecedented swift response to issues affecting students.

• Enthusiastic about set targets for addressing complaints.

• Adding value to the hostels through, tiling, re-piping, re-wiring, constant

supply of cleaning materials, evacuation of sewage, de- silting of soak-

away ,delivery of over 3000 mattresses and other municipal services.

• Easing of obtaining accommodation in the hostels through an electronic

platform that is linked to the payment portal.

DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF ABSU PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY

AND CONSUMER SERVICES

• Re-introduction of ABSU table water and the commencement of ABSU

Loaf.

• Re-structuring of ABSU Microfinance Bank to provide enhanced

community services across its environs and the state at large.

• Upgrading and optimizing of ABSU Bookshop.

COLLABORATION AND LINKAGES BETWEEN 2016 TO DATE

•State University of New York for staff and student exchange progremmes,

collaborative research in optometry and vision science.

•University of Mexico on joint research activity for staff and students of both

institutions.

•Oxford University, United Kingdom, for a collaborative relationship in

academic exchange programme between Oxford University and Abia State

University.

•Clarion Call Incorporated, U.S.A based company for establishment of a

Health and fitness center and exposure to Research Sponsoring

International Organizations.

•National Mathematical Center, Abuja, for exchange programme in the

enhancement of teaching and learning of Mathematical Science, with the

ultimate intention of establishing Abia State University as a Zonal Center

for the training of Mathematics teachers within the South-East and South-

South Zones.

•National Office of Technology and Promotions (NOTAP) under the Federal

Ministry of Science and Technology and Promotions for workshops on

writing of Award-winning Research Proposals with ultimate aim of opening

an office here called Intellectual and Technology Transfer Office (ITTO)

•ETMP, a Malaysian based company for the establishment of

Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition Training Programme for our regular

students and long term training for the public, with industrial attachment in

home country industry, in line with State Government programme on

Education for Employment, etc.

ONGOING PROJECTS

• Construction of ultra-modern office complex for senior teaching staff.

• Construction of Department of Anatomy Complex at the Uturu location of

the university

• Construction of Faculty of Engineering Complex at Osisioma, Aba.

• Construction of Department of Pharmacy Complex at the Uturu location of

the university

• Construction of Department of Physiology Complex at the Uturu location

of the university.

• Construction of Department of Optometry Complex at the Uturu location

of the university

• Construction of 40 bedroom Post graduate hostel.

Like earlier stated, this list is not absolutely comprehensive as it’s

herculean task to capture Prof. Ikonne’s landmark achivments as Vice

Chancellor. Many projects may have been missed out in this but howbeit,

ABSU has risen in the last four years more than any other Nigerian

University and this is enough to celebrate.

There’s no doubt that he will do more because his passion to turn things

around in the University is as strong as the first step he took upon

assumption of office.

Ahamefula Israel, a Bureaucrat, sent in this piece from Umuahia, Abia State.