₦airaland Forum

ALLEGATIONS/PETITION AGAINST THE HOD, DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS, UNN: A REJOINDER.

It is no longer a thing of surprise or shock to establish that most mischief makers live and thrive in misinformation and lies inorder to actualise or sustain their nefarious ambition. For some days now, the social media has been flooded with write ups by unscrupulous elements solely aimed at defaming the character of the present HOD of economics, UNN in the person of Dr Jude Chukwu. I wish to reiterate once again that the information disclosed in those write ups are not only false, but baseless, fallacious and maliciously intended. A known fact which is not far from the truth is that mischief makers masquerading as concerned students, former msc student and the likes, whose illicit activities were exposed and cut short were the scenes behind these laughable movies which sole aim is to truncate and debilitate the transformation agenda and efforts of the present HOD. I wish to point at this juncture that lam an active insider in the department and fully aware of most events unfolding in the department. Besides, I had my first degree, second and third degree in the department spanning for three dacades from the period I was an undergraduate. My following submissions therefore is a descriptive narrative of the departmental modus operandi as well as efforts at putting the records straight. As a matter of fact, the present HOD has been in the fore- front of entrenching discipline, justice, fairness, accountability and transparency in the department even before his ascendance to the present position. Dr Jude Chukwu is good mannered, a man of justice, high moral values and an epitome of humility. He is also an astute administrator and an erudite scholar with numerous academic excellence. Those who were opportuned to interact with him could attest to his other numerous examplary charisma. In the area of departmental PG seminar coordination, his administration stopped the fees normally charged to PG students for sending out work for external examinations. He also cancelled the elaborate entertainment expenses subjected to PG students during PG seminars. He was able to break and dismantle the departmental cabal that regularly threatens PG students .The cabal is so powerful that PG students are issued with threats to settle the cabal if such students want progress in their PG program. It was indeed a booming oil business for the cabal. I wish to state that I am one of the victims of the cabal which deployed all manner of tactics, which included anonymous bulk SMS threats, to frustrate my PHd programme. It was this present HOD( Dr. Jude Chukwu) who came to my rescue when he was still the PG seminar Chairman. He encouraged and stood by me and frustrated the efforts of the cabal to enable me complete my PHD programme. He also assisted other numerous PG students with similar experiences. On the issue of undergraduate students welfare, he brought sanity in the operations of
the present Nigerian Economics Students Association (NESA) executives by entrenching accountability and transparency. It was no longer business as usual whereby undergraduate students are charged arbitrary levies only to be squandered by the executives in collaboration with some lecturers of the department. The HOD operates an open door policy and is accessible to students. On departmental progress, the administration gave a face-lift to the departmental building, accomplished a successful NUC accreditation in 2019 as well as graduated a significant number of final year students, despite the huge falsification/ alterations of undergraduate results he inherited. On overall academic activities, courses are now allocated based on areas of specialisation, wealth of experience and hierarchy. It is no longer news that project supervisors, course lecturers as well as non academic staff of the department now thread with caution in discharging their duties, bearing in mind that any factual allegation against them will be met with decisive action. I can go on and on to mention his laudable transformations in this short period of his tenure. Against this backdrop, it would be judicious to state that no mischievous element will like to associate with a man with such amiable and superlative qualities. The mischievous elements who engage in nefarious activities and whose source of " oil business" were stopped due to his appointment would leave no stone unturned to fight back. They should be alerted they they are defaming the character of a law abiding citizen of Nigeria.Nevertheless, the holy Bible made it clear" Wise men will gain an honourable reputation but stupid men will only add to their disgrace" (Proverb 3:35). Let us be properly guided in our actions and decisions. Dr Nnaji Chibueze.

Greetings!
My attention has been drawn to an article written by a certain disgruntled former master’s student of Economics, UNN, entitled “Why You Should Not go to UNN Economics Dept. for your MSc Program.” Although we have the right to express our views, it is unfair to make sweeping statements. I will not sit back and allow someone to put a question mark on my degrees because I did BSc and MSc in the said department and institution. I think it makes sense to hear the views of a former student and current staff of the department. I will respond to some of the claims to the best of my knowledge with facts and figures.
During my undergraduate and postgraduate days, seasoned academics taught me, some of whom are still there (Dr. S. I. Madueme, Dr. Jude O. Chukwu, Dr. Uchechukwu M. Uzughalu, Dr. Ukwueze Ezebuilo, Dr. Emmanuel Nwosu, and others). Dr. Jude O. Chukwu supervised my BSc project. It is worth mentioning that I was the second person to submit in the department out of over 200 students. The same Dr. Jude O. Chukwu supervised even the first student to submit. She later emerged as the best graduating student in my set and currently works with KPMG, while I was the second-best in 2010.
As the writer of the article, I started a master’s program in Economics, UNN, immediately after the compulsory one-year national service (NYSC) in 2012, and by June 2014, I had finished. In all, I did my masters for 18 months (It was 12 months if you exclude six months of industrial action). Although some of my mates finished in two years, others completed it in three years. While Prof. C. C. Agu was the HOD during that period, Dr. Jude O. Chukwu was the PG seminar coordinator.
In terms of quality, I hold my head high wherever I go. After my master’s, I was interviewed by the Centre for the Studies of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), a research think tank in Abuja for a post of research associate alongside graduates of the University of Ibadan, University of Benin, foreign Universities, among others. In the end, I was successful with two other UI graduates. I worked for barely three months when UNN offered me an appointment. Competition with graduates from different universities has not stopped. In 2017, I competed for 1 of 25 University of Exeter International Excellence Ph.D. scholarships – a Russell group university. Fortunately, I was the only African awarded. Still, I am working very hard at Exeter to God’s glory.
As per my experience as a staff of the Department of Economics, UNN, Dr. Jude O. Chukwu was still the PG seminar coordinator before I traveled. On a few occasions, I remember that we slept over in the department, getting either M.Sc or Ph.D. seminar stuffs ready to ensure smooth progression. Some colleagues who have worked under him can validate this experience. We made some notable changes to how seminars and workshops were conducted in the department. Prof S. I. Mdueme (the former HOD) can attest to this. Aside from being the PG seminar coordinator, Dr. Jude O. Chukwu oversaw securing accommodation for our guests, including external examiners. That meant going to and from CEC (the university of Nigeria’s guest house). He carried out that task for many years before I was appointed by Prof S. I. Madueme to take over from him.
The assertion that Dr. Chukwu’s supervisor delayed his Ph.D. is incorrect and a misguided vent of aggression. Prof F. E. Onah was practically begging him to complete his Ph.D. However, I am aware of three factors that delayed him. First, data problems. Second, his determination to do rigorous research, which eventually led to his traveling to Brazil. Finally, the excess workload in the university. Many of you can nod your head in agreement because we all experience it.
I will close by submitting that, lots have happened in the department in my absence. For instance, a friend who started his M.Sc in the department the same year with the disappointed writer but had long finished his program told me that he is yet to get his certificate. He complained about a new rule which the PG school made that adds to the bureaucracy. I do not know about it, but I think the process needs to be simplified so that students can graduate in record time.
May I end it here!
Eleanya Nduka

My dear Faculty Members! It is often said that "evil thrives in a society when the good people in such a society say or do nothing". It is partly based on this popular quote that I have decided to say some few things concerning this write-up from a purported former student. Permit me to begin by saying that I am somewhat disappointed by the initial comments made by some academics on this platform. As academics, we should not be persuaded based on emotions but based on sound reasons. As intellectuals, we should scrutinize write-ups with a view to ascertaining their veracity; we should seek truth and cherish truth. Having said the foregoing, let me say that the fact that an institution is painted in lurid colours by a disgruntled or some disgruntled former students does not diminish the credibility of the institution. Incidentally, the first generation universities that were mentioned in the write-up(University of Ibadan, University of Lagos and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria) had at one time or the other been painted "black" and discredited by some disgruntled former students. It is not possible for all the students that enter or pass through a university to shower praises on the university. I did my MSc and PhD at University of Ibadan(in Economics Department). Those of us that were successful have often showered encomiums on the Department and the University. But many of those that were not successful have often vilified the Department and the University. Let me say that, in general, the write-up is not even tangential to the truth rather it is parallel to the truth. The write-up claimed that there are many lecturers in Economics Department of UNN that are not good but are evil yet he only mentioned the name Jude for "crucifixion". This is very unfair to put it mildly. He could not even write the full name of somebody he claimed has been the Postgraduate Co-ordinator and the current Head of the Department he was admitted in about three years ago. This is an eloquent manifestation that he was not a serious student. For record purposes, the full name of the current Head of Economics Department, UNN is Dr. Jude Okechukwu Chukwu. He is an erudite scholar, he is an astute administrator, he is an indefatigable worker in the temple of knowledge and he is an epitome of humility. He is a Reader yet he humbles himself. He has served the Department with matchless diligence and sagacity. Also, he is a moral giant and an unrepentant crusader of sound morality and strict adherence to rules and regulations in the work place. He is highly principled and he holds his principle tenaciously. It was Thomas Jefferson(a former American President) that stated: "In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock". Those that are morally bankrupt and always want to "cut corners" will surely hate him. Unfortunately, we are in a world of "moral liliputians". It is not true that Dr. Jude Okechukwu Chukwu has been the Departmental Postgraduate Co-ordinator. He was the Seminar Co-ordinator and few days after he became HOD on 1st August, 2019, he left the position and assigned it to Dr. Innocent Ifelunini. It should be noted that Dr. Chukwu became Head of Economics Department, UNN on 1st August, 2019(just about 7 months before the COVID-19 lock-down). How then could he have caused all the purported "damages" within this short period? As another pointer to the mischievous nature and falsity of the write-up, it is stated in it that "even after one year of being appointed HOD, he is still the PG Co-ordinator". This is blatant falsehood! As shown earlier, it is not up to one year that he became the HOD and he was never the PG Co-ordinator within the past nine(9) years. The write-up further claimed that when he was appointed the HOD by his cronies(fellow perpetrators), the worst happened. Could this be true? Was the headship appointment given by his "cronies(follow perpetrators)"? Was it not the VC that gave the appointment? Or is the VC among his "cronies"("perpetrators"? As academics, we should always do critical thinking otherwise the higher degrees we claim to possess may be considered as useless. It was Chinua Achebe(of the blessed and eternal memory) that once stated that "if the intellectual fails to live by his intellect, he ceases to have relevance". The write-up also claims that Dr. Chukwu "made a covenant that he will frustrate all his Postgraduate supervises and all PG students because he was delayed by his own supervisor while he was doing his PhD programme. This is evidently another blatant lie. The seasoned academic that supervised Dr. Chukwu's PhD thesis is Prof. Felix E. Onah. Dr. Chukwu has maintained an excellent working relationship and rapport with his thesis supervisor. The supervisor did not even delay him(Dr. Chukwu) rather the delay was as a result of his unparalled dedication to his duties in the Department as well as his great passion for excellence; he never wanted to sacrifice excellence on the alter of speed. To his credit, at least two papers from his PhD thesis were published in high impact Thomson Reuters journals(that also appeared in Quartile 1 of Scimago Journal Rank class). To the best of my knowledge, Dr. Chukwu has assisted many PG students professionally; indeed, he has mentored many PG students(i.e., those that showed promise for scholarship). Let me point out here that the write-up did not just vilify Economics Department but the entire University. The write-up claimed, among other things, that "more than 50% of lecturers at UNN are not dedicated to their work ..." Is this true? If we agree that it is true, then we are saying that we don't have a university. I can go on and on showing that the write-up is full of lies but I have to apply discretion which is said to be the better part of valour. Let me advise us not to be too quick to side disgruntled students against our colleagues. Academics in Nigeria, in general, are working very hard in spite of their poor pay and overall welfare condition. It is sad to note that a full professor in Nigeria earns less than $1,000 per month while his counterpart in many sane societies earn more than $6,000 per month. Despite the poor pay and welfare, we are always given "excess work load" particularly in Departments like Economics. Concerning the delay in graduating Postgraduate students in UNN, some colleagues have already stated some of the factors responsible for this. The factors include giving admission in batches without clear standards, admitting many weak students(we often disregard results of screening tests), poor welfare and motivation, excess workload, etc. Some people say that some universities like University of Ibadan and University of Lagos do Master's degree programme in one year. This is not true. The minimum duration for a Master's degree programme( full-time) is 18 months which usually stretch to at least 2 years. University of Ibadan apparently has the most organised Postgraduate programmes but you cannot finish a Master's degree programme there now in less than two years. We should not compare UNN with University of Ibadan. University of Ibadan is by far more organised. For instance, University of Ibadan usually does everything humanly possible to admit only the best candidates for its Postgraduate programmes. In Economics Department at Ibadan, only graduates with First Class and Second Class Upper division are considered for admission and they go through highly competitive selection test; here, we often disregard our screening test and accept weak students. At Ibadan, many departments are top- heavy in terms of academic staffing; here, many of our departments are bottom-heavy. Given that big universities are said to be Postgraduate universities(with many Postgraduate students) and that Postgraduate studies are supposed to be handled by very senior academics(full Professors or at least Readers), it is expected that such big universities should have more of very senior academics. In Economics Department, University of Ibadan, there are at least 10 resident Full Professors and many Readers; but in Economics Department, UNN, there are only 2 resident Full Professors and 2 Readers. At University of Ibadan, academic staff are better motivated than academic staff in UNN. For example, a confirmed academic staff at Ibadan is entitled to sponsorship to attend at least one international conference in foreign country in every two years; but in UNN, conference sponsorship is not clearly defined. In fact, staff welfare at the University of Ibadan is evidently better. Various theories of motivation show clearly that the productivity of workers that are well motivated will be significantly higher than the productivity of workers that are not well motivated. It is often said that "to whom much is given, much is expected". In the same vein, to whom little is given, little should be expected". I dare to say that if we align with any disgruntled student to malign Dr. Jude O. Chukwu, that will be a clear example of demotivation and it will be a great disservice to humanity. Dr. Chukwu has worked extremely hard in the few months he has been the HOD; he successfully led the Department to get full accreditation from NUC, he successfully graduated undergraduate students despite the serious crisis that he inherited and he optimally managed the crisis. Let me end by saying that the triumph of falsehood over truth is only for a moment; the truth will surely conquer in the end. The Christian scriptures(popularly called the Holy Bible) put it admiringly thus: "The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment". (Prov. 12:19; King James Version). On this note I rest my case. I pray the Almighty God to give us understanding in all thing. Uche M. Ozughalu.