MOUAU Distances Vice-Chancellor From Controversial Recruitment, Warns Against Falsehood

The management of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), has clarified that the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, played no role in the University’s last recruitment exercise.

In a statement issued signed by MOUAU’s Head of Public Relations and Protocol, Anyaso Anyaso, the University explained that the recruitment process, including the capturing of successful applicants for payroll, had been concluded before Professor Akanwa assumed office as Vice-Chancellor on March 1, 2026.

MOUAU Press Release

According to the statement, the Vice-Chancellor had repeatedly informed members of the University community during various meetings that all enquiries regarding the exercise should be directed to those who conducted the recruitment, as she neither supervised nor participated in the process.

The University further explained that the Federal Government had granted a waiver for the recruitment of 426 staff, a figure subsequently approved by the Governing Council with a directive to the then University management to strictly adhere to the approved quota.

However, the statement disclosed that although appointment letters were issued to 618 individuals, only 553 were captured on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), which ultimately uploaded only the 426 positions approved by the Federal Government and the Governing Council.

The management also emphasized that the Vice-Chancellor has no access to the GIFMIS platform and therefore lacks the authority to alter, remove or add any names uploaded to the system.

While urging members of the public and stakeholders to disregard what it described as misleading insinuations being spread by mischief makers, the University advised the public to rely solely on official communication channels for accurate information and to refrain from circulating unverified reports.