Futo turns V C wife to proffessor

Owerri – Th Federal University of Technology, Owerri has clarified that the appointment of Mrs Ihuoma Asiabaka, the wife of the vice chancellor, as a professor followed due process. The Registrar of the university, Mr Orje Isheghnor, told a news conference in Owerri on Friday that the Senate observed all the rules in her promotion and those of the others. He said that in addition to the internal processes, Asiabaka also went through external assessment before was elevated to the position. Isheghnor said that the professorial appointment was neither induced nor influenced as she was promoted alongside five other qualified persons. “The university system is the most democratic in the country because you have people that are well read, very knowledgeable, very critical and independent minded. “The university is run through committee system; it is a structured society where everything you do has to conform to the law establishing the place. “Prof. Mrs Asiabaka was subjected to external assessment and at the end of it, the council was satisfied that due process was followed,” he said. Isheghnor further said that Asiabaka had been a senior lecturer for many years at the Imo State University and was eligible for a readership or associate professor position for about three years before joining the university in 2011. “Mrs Asiabaka was already eligible for a post as an associate professor when she joined FUTO in 2011. “She was assessed and offered that position, having served as a reader or associate professor for three years which is our qualified period of assessment to the next rank. “She was due and her name was put forward by the department and school at the central appraisal committee for professorial assessment where we established a prima facie. “Her papers were sent for external assessment like every other person whose papers were sent for professorial appointment,” he said. The registrar urged anyone who still had doubts to come forth to verify her papers. “We are satisfied with the procedure we put forward for the appointment and promotion in this university and it can stand under the most stringent scrutiny,” he said