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FOR THE RECORD
Pantami’s ‘professorship’ sets FUTO Organs at War
The Alumni Association of Federal University of Technology Owerri FUTO which rose very early to express concern in what was considered to be a questionable professorship award to Minister Isa Pantami has finally advised Management of the University to step down the award. The association says it considers the award inexplicable and questionable. It also dissociates itself from an unknown group called FUTO Alumni Elders which has been struggling to whitewash the fraud.
FUTO management filed a suit on the matter but that has not stopped further conversation on the issue. ASUU-FUTO, The FUTO Chapter of ASUU, which earlier endorsed the award has reversed itself to align with ASUU’s condemnation of the award. ASUU is Academic Staff Union of Universities.
Several agents and interests are however still known to be on the field selling the fraud as reality.
Premium Times reports that:
“The Alumni Association of Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) has said the award of professorship to the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, was inappropriate.
This is contained in a statement co-signed by Kingsley Azuaru, national secretary and Ndubuisi Chijioke, national president of the association, respectively.
The association said the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was right in advising FUTO management to reconsider the appointment.
“FUTO Alumni Association reaffirms her position that the professorship of Pantami was inappropriate
“FUTO Alumni Association appreciates the national body of ASUU and the local chapter for jointly condemning the appointment of Pantami as professor in FUTO.
“The National Secretary therefore reaffirmed FUTO alumni association’s position that Pantami’s appointment was inexplicable and questionable”.
The association said it was unfortunate that a group known as Alumni Elders planned to host the management of the university to a dinner where it would declare support for the award.
The association said the FUTO Alumni Elders was not recognised by the association’s constitution.
“It is deception for FUTO Alumni Elders to deceive the public that the so called reunion is being organised in conjunction with FUTO Alumni Association.
“FUTO Alumni Association is not involved in whatsoever manner with the scheduled dinner by the group called FUTO Alumni Elders.
“NEC considers the use of the association’s name in the promotion of this event without its consent a grievous infringement and subversive of the alumni leadership,” it said.
It said the National Executive Council of the Alumni had not committed any funds or authorised the university to avail or expend any funds on the event from the alumni funds.
“In conclusion on the subject issue, NEC wishes to dissociate FUTO Alumni Association and her members from this event
“And all Chapter executives have been mandated to communicate this position immediately to their members”, it said.
Many scholars have condemned the award of professorship to Mr. Pantami.
The national leadership of ASUU has advised FUTO management to reverse the award on the ground that it is inappropriate.
The FUTO management has, however, insisted that the award followed due process”.
