The Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Prof. Kate Omenugha, says she will not be intimidated over her decision to dismiss five senior lecturers found guilty of misconduct.
The university announced the sackings last month. The lecturers, drawn from different faculties, were accused of sexually harassing students and failing to perform their duties.
After the announcement, some of the affected staff responded with counter-allegations. They accused the university leadership of corruption and a drop in academic standards, claiming the sackings were meant to hide bigger problems.
But speaking to journalists in Awka on Thursday, Prof. Omenugha dismissed the claims. She said the allegations were only a ploy to shift attention from the real issues that led to their removal.
“I should be praised for this, not attacked,” she said. “For years, cases of lecturers abusing students sexually happened and nothing was done. When I came in, I put a stop to it.
“You cannot intimidate students who are under your protection. If any lecturer harasses my students, I will deal with it. Nothing they say will change that.”
The VC insisted that enforcing discipline is part of her responsibility. “I deserve commendation for taking a stand against these lecturers. No one can fault me for sanctioning staff who broke the rules,” she added.
She revealed that some of the lecturers were caught in explicit videos that later spread online. She also said many female students came forward with complaints of being forced into sexual relationships by lecturers. According to her, all the cases were investigated and confirmed, despite claims by some lecturers that the videos were created with AI.
Before the press briefing, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Harrison Madubueze, conducted journalists round some of the projects under the VC’s administration. The projects include TETFUND-supported infrastructure and initiatives by “Friends of the University,” a group founded by Prof. Omenugha.
The Vice Chancellor said her work at COOU is aimed at the future. “What we are building now will be of greater benefit to the next administration when these projects are completed,” she noted.
On the sacked lecturers, she disclosed that an appeals committee has been set up to give them a chance to challenge their dismissal and prove their innocence.