Alvan Ikoku Varsity: SUG Presidents Praise Acting DVC Prof Ngozi Lemchi For Leadership Ingenuity

By Amby Uneze*

The Forum of Past and Present Leaders of the Alvan Students Union Government (SUG) has praised Professor Ngozi Stella Lemchi, the acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) of the newly elevated Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education (AIFUE), for her leadership abilities.

In a commendation message sent to the DVC and signed by approximately 19 signatories consisting of current and former Students Union Government leaders, they expressed satisfaction with the acting deputy vice chancellor of the institution’s leadership abilities and passed a vote of confidence in her.

Their statement reads, “When we learned on May 20th, 2015, that the Goodluck Jonathan administration had upgraded Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education to a full-fledged university, we, the students of the institution, were overjoyed. The entire campus erupted in jubilation. Unfortunately, this joy was cut short a few months later when President Buhari’s administration placed our university status on “hold.”

“To say we were devastated by the development is an understatement. It was as if our lights had dimmed.President Tinubu’s declaration through the Federal Ministry of Education in June 2023 lifted the “hold” on the College’s University status, restoring our joy in a flash.

“To put words into action, an assessment team comprising officials from the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission, National Commission for Colleges of Education, and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund was sent to carry out a detailed inventory and appraisal of the existing teaching and learning facilities, student population, staff, and academic structure in the institution with particular reference to their adequacy, quality, and suitability for

Furthermore, on October 20, 2023, the Federal Ministry of Education issued a press release announcing the official launch of Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education Owerri.

“In order to materialise the university status, the Federal Government appointed the Provost of the former College of Education as the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the University, while other Principal Officers of the former College were permitted to continue to discharge their duties in an acting capacity until a substantive Vice-Chancellor and other Principal Officers of the University are appointed.

“With these developments, we are convinced that our university is here to stay. The Student Union Leaders, representing hundreds of thousands of students, express gratitude to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for restoring the university’s status. We cannot thank you enough, Your Excellency, for restoring our hope, the dignity of our beloved school, and our truncated joy.

“We thus pledge our ongoing gratitude to you and unwavering support for your administration.We also acknowledge the fatherly role played by His Excellency Sen. Hope Uzodima, Imo State’s Executive Governor, in achieving this feat. We are eternally grateful to you, governor.

“We also want to make the public aware of the activities of some mischief-makers and political jobbers who are attempting to reap what they did not sow.These rascals have used various means to distract our hardworking and dear Ag. DVC, Prof. Ngozi Stella Lemchi, from the institution’s smooth administration and astute management. The wicked plotting of these enemies of progress was brought to light when an Owerri-based newspaper issued a deceptive publication on Friday, April 12, 2024, with the banner headline: “Protest erupts over appointment of Alvan Ag. DVC as a Professor by IMSU.”

“However, the body of the newspaper failed to state how, where, and when the aforementioned protest occurred, nor did it specify who carried out such a protest. It became clear that the paper’s writer and publisher had been hired to paint a false picture of the crisis in order to call the Lemchi administration’s peaceful atmosphere into question. But, to God’s glory, they failed miserably. Nobody can curse those who have been blessed by God.

The four university labour unions, COEASU/ASUU, SSUCOEN/SSANU, NASU, and NAAT, have debunked the misleading publication in a joint publication titled “The needless dis This response clearly indicates that none of the University’s staff unions are in conflict with the Ag. DVC and her administration, so the workers are not protesting.

Similarly, no student organisations at the university are protesting. Given that neither the Ag. DVC’s administrative excellence nor the authenticity of her appointment as a Professor by Imo State University are in question, we respectfully request that the authorities and the general public ignore the antics of these rascals.

“We, the representatives of the student body both past and present, felt compelled to express our position on the ongoing. As a result, we can unequivocally state that we admire our Ag. DVC’s administrative style, and we have had no issues with her since she took over the leadership of the former college of education and is now serving as the Ag. DVC of our nascent university.

“Throughout these years, she has been a wonderful and caring mother to all of the students. She has been extremely responsive to the needs and requests of the students. She has resolved over 87% of the accommodation issues plaguing students, particularly those living on campus. She works around the clock to ensure that the students’ well-being is taken care of. We are extremely pleased to have her as our Ag DVC. As a result, we will be delighted to have her as our substantive Vice-Chancellor.Furthermore, we celebrate her appointment as a Professor at Imo State University. Allow no one to persuade you otherwise, as such an attempt should be considered deceptive.

“We, therefore, pass this vote of confidence on Prof. Ngozi Stella Lemchi for the reasons stated above, as well as for her excellent administrative performance as head of this university thus far.

“The following are examples of the indelible marks she has stamped on the sand of time, eloquently demonstrating her superb administrative brilliance.

“1) For the first time in many years, the administrative head is collaborating with all of the institution’s labour unions and the student union government: there is no strike, no threat of strike, and no student riot.” This is due to her ability to effectively manage the institution’s human and material resources.

“2) Infrastructure Upgrade: Professor Stella Ngozi Lemchi prioritised the renovation of hostels, particularly hostels G and D, to improve their ambiance and functionality. The Lemchi administration used the FG revitalization fund to replace over 200 doors and windows, tile the floors of the two hostels, completely rebuild the toilets, and install safe and functional kitchens for the students. The work included improving the water supply in the hostels, repainting the entire structure, and installing electrical works, wardrobes, and beds. She ensures that water and electricity are available on a regular basis in the hostel. The school’s educational infrastructure, including the library and lecture halls, is currently undergoing extensive renovation.

“3) Student Support: Prof. Stella Ngozi Lemchi implemented measures to combat student harassment and improved the NYSC mobilisation and certificate issuance procedures. Last year, three batches of students were mobilised for service, which was unprecedented in the institution for nearly a decade. Her focus on student welfare includes streamlining clearance procedures, raising academic standards, communicating with parents and guardians, and working with the Student Union to quickly resolve any issues.

“4) Security Enhancement: Professor Stella Ngozi Lemchi restructured the University’s security architecture. She has promoted best practices in the recruitment of student security operatives and provided them with the necessary equipment and resources for effective performance. Her efforts have significantly reduced security breaches, which were common prior to her appointment when students were routinely robbed and harassed in their hostels and on school grounds, both at night and in broad daylight.

“5) Environmental sanitation: by employing environmental sanitation contractors who collaborate with Faculties environmental sanitation committees, hostel cleaners, and others, Prof. Stella Lemchi has maintained a sparkling clean and beautiful school environment since she took over the institution’s leadership,” the statement said.

According to SUG leaders, her efforts to improve the lot of the staff have earned her peaceful collaboration with the staff union leaders, as evidenced by the following achievements:

“1) Staff Welfare: Prof. Lemchi cleared the backlog of staff promotions and conversions that had been pending for years. Hundreds of non-teaching employees were converted and properly assigned. Many of them had earned higher job qualifications. Conversions and promotions have boosted employee morale and motivation levels. She has advocated for the welfare and proper placement of teaching staff during the transition process. She has petitioned the regulator to grant lecturers grace periods to obtain the qualifications required to maintain their positions, rather than being abruptly demoted to a lower rank at the university.

“2) Infrastructural developments: The Lemchi administration has begun construction of a Professors’ block in the Shell Camp area, as well as increased infrastructure development on the campus across the Nworie River. By doing so, she has successfully prevented further encroachment on the university’s land across the Nworie River. The Lemchi administration is currently working on plans to address ecological issues on the riverbank in order to allow for the use of the bridge built to aid movement and development on the other side of the river, which had previously limited the institution’s infrastructural expansion.

“3) Increased Internally Generated Revenue: From the start of her administration, Prof. Stella Ngozi Lemchi planned and successfully implemented policies to increase the institution’s internally generated revenue. One major component of this was the creation of a streamlined fee payment portal to close revenue leakages. She has also revitalised university business ventures such as the water factory and bakery.

“4) Transition Process: Through her proactive, relentless, and graceful engagement with the NUC and the FME.” Prof. Stella Ngozi Lemchi is ensuring a smooth transition for the institution. The NUC recently assigned her a 37-man team to verify the University’s programmes’ resources. Furthermore, in collaboration with the University’s staff unions, Lemchi has submitted a bill to the National Assembly for the codification of the law that established the University, granting the University permanent status,” they stated.

The student leaders stated that, given Prof. Mrs Stella Ngozi Lemchi’s numerous accomplishments, which cannot be fully listed in a single publication like this, those attempting to take over her position are so intimidated by her accomplishments in such a short period of time that they are resorting to cheap blackmail by publishing calumny.

“On the basis of the foregoing, we, the students of Alvan Ikoku University of Education in Owerri, believe that our Ag. DVC (Administration), Prof. Stella Ngozi Lemchi, is qualified to continue leading the administration of this new university.

“We therefore request that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, appoint Prof. Stella Ngozi Lemchi as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of Alvan lkoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, so that she can continue her good work. We pledge to continue working with her for greater success,” the statement said.