THE national president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, has been criticised for calling some institutions quack.
In an interview on Arise TV, Osodeke described some state-owned universities as “quacks” and “irrelevant” in the struggle of ASUU with the Federal Government. The union has been on strike since February.
Responding to the statement, Ekiti State University (EKSU) Ado-Ekiti spokesman said in a press release yesterday that the ASUU leader’s comments were reckless and unacceptable.
The statement said, “The management of EKSU views this denigrating remark about some universities, coming from the National President of ASUU as unfortunate, reckless and unwarranted.
“Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti is currently the 14th best university in Nigeria out of about 200 universities (Federal, State & Private) and the 2nd best State University according to the recent Webometric ranking of universities.
“Apart from the above, the university (EKSU) has nearly all its academic programmes accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and relevant professional regulatory bodies. The university is proud to have many top-rated globally recognised academics, and its alumni are making waves both nationally and internationally. By the grace of God, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, the Governor-elect of Ekiti State is an alumnus and a former lecturer at the University.
“Even in ASUU, a number of staff of our university had served and still serving in various capacities at zonal and national levels including but not limited to Professor Afolabi Popoola, Dr Sikiru Eniola, Profs. Eddy Olanipekun, Ayan Adeleke and Olu-Olu Olufayo.”
The statement added that “categorising EKSU as among the quack and irrelevant universities is a testimony to the fact that the ASUU President is probably uninformed and/or is bereft of ideas. This arrant nonsense coming from Comrade Osodeke is totally unacceptable and condemnable.”
The university called on Osodeke to immediately retract “the provocative remark and tender an unreserved apology.”
Meanwhile, the Kwara State University (KWASU) said the institution is founded on the vision of advancing the frontiers of knowledge for the good of society and not a quack university.
The KWASU Director, University Relations, Dr Saeedat Aliyu, disclosed this in a statement in Ilorin.
Aliyu said, “KWASU Management considers these statements as undeserving of an academic of Prof. Osodeke’s purported status.
“One who should know better than to denigrate institutions of higher learning for one reason that is unrelated to any factor used to measure the standard of institutions anywhere in the world.
“His statements are tantamount to bullying, they are reckless, uncalled for and a denigration of the status he occupies as national head of the union of academic staff in Nigeria.”
