ASUU DOLES OUT OVER N1.7 MILLION TO 15 UNIUYO STUDENTS

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15 underprivileged University of Uyo students who excelled in their academic endeavours received approximately N1.7 million from the Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Uyo Branch.

Additionally, it awarded the Heroes’ Award to former leaders who guided the union through difficult times in the branch’s history.

The Heroes’ Day Celebration, which took place on Monday at the institution, celebrated the recipients.

Prof. Emmanuel Osadeke, the union’s national president, encouraged the awardees to stick with the programme and praised them for their unwavering commitment and selfless devotion to the union in spite of obstacles.

The vice chancellors have allegedly committed injustices by hiring a wide range of people without following the correct processes, turning staff employment into their “constituency projects.” The ASUU president has called on both present and former union leaders to take a stand against this.

He made the observation that, despite the fact that staff numbers at these institutions have tripled, no university in the country has advertised job openings in the last six to ten years. Furthermore, he said, those hired hold no standing in the academic world.

“I must heartily congratulate all the heroes honoured today for the sacrifices they made to the point of termination of appointments, seizure of salaries, demotion among other travails for speaking truth to powers for the benefit of others.

“Before now, university employment was done through advertisement followed by rigorous interviews but now how do people get here? It is through temporary appointments. That’s the problem that we have today. I do not know of any university for the past six to 10 years that has advertised, but the staff strength has tripled.

“Vice-Chancellors just sat down somewhere and packed people from traditional rulers, governors, and all other politicians into the Nigerian universities as lecturers and most of them are now scavengers in the system, going after money and all manners of things.

During a keynote speech, retired professor of ethnocommunication Desmond Wilson bemoaned the difficulties fifth columnists and other government agents hired to sow discord have caused in the union’s struggles.

The professor asked all union members to continue being selfless and dedicated in the struggle for the benefit of everyone and the rescue of Nigerian universities from their predicaments, emphasising that heroism was not a pass for misbehaviour.

ASUU’s unselfish devotion to humanity was praised by the university’s vice chancellor, professor Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, who was represented by professor Ben Etuk.

He stated that the union’s work has made a significant contribution to the improved wellbeing of university employees.

In response, Ekpo Friday, a student from the Faculty of Education who received the ASUU-UUB scholarship, thanked the union for helping the institution’s impoverished students and added that the act gave them more motivation to focus on their studies in order to graduate with honours.

Prof. Opeyemi Olajide, the acting chairperson, stated that the gesture was intended to encourage the students—who were also recognised as exceptional members of their respective faculties—to complete their course of study.

Prof. Joseph Ushie, Prof. Edet Akpan, Prof. Desmond Wilson, and Dr. Etop Ndiyo are among those awarded for their dedicated contributions.

Others include Prof Aniesua Essiet and Prof Ashong Ashong.