Deborah Akinyosoye
Former Senate Leader and Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, has reiterated his commitment to upholding academic integrity, revealing that he once dismissed six professors for sexual harassment within two months of assuming office at a previous institution.
Speaking with journalists in Calabar over the weekend, Ndoma-Egba expressed deep concern over the declining standards in Nigeria’s academic system, emphasising that he does not tolerate any form of misconduct, especially cases that compromise the credibility of university certificates.
“When I went to Lokoja, the first thing I did was, in two months, I sacked six professors for sexual harassment. It did not happen while I was there; it happened before I arrived. They were under investigation, but you know how our systems work, they tried to protect themselves,” he stated.
The senior lawyer explained that his legal background guided his approach to ensuring justice in the cases.
According to him, he insisted that the investigation be reviewed thoroughly to align findings with conclusions.
“I told them to take it back and align their findings with their conclusion.
“They had no choice but to do the needful. Some of them were old men, but I sacked them. I don’t tolerate that because it degrades the value of the certificate you are holding.”
Ndoma-Egba decried the widespread academic malpractice in the country, including sorting, a practice where students pay bribes to pass courses, and the existence of miracle centers, where students obtain high grades without the required competence.
He warned that such unethical practices were undermining Nigeria’s education system.
He described FUOYE as a model institution that has not been affected by these challenges, attributing its rising appeal to students to strict adherence to academic standards.
“Apart from the fact that it is located in Ekiti, a state known for its love for education, the main reason why FUOYE has become so attractive is that we have not suffered from disruptions to our academic calendar,” he said.
Despite the impact of COVID-19 and the prolonged nine-month strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ndoma-Egba stated that FUOYE had maintained a stable academic schedule, allowing students to graduate on time.
He credited this to the university’s firm policies and effective management.
The Pro-Chancellor also assured that FUOYE remains committed to upholding discipline and ethical standards.
The former Senate leader proudly stated, “All our courses are fully accredited, and we ensure that cases of misconduct, including sexual harassment, are handled with the seriousness they deserved.”
On the latest sexual harassment case at FUOYE, he disclosed that the university’s Governing Council had set up a committee to investigate the matter.
He noted that although the report was ready, it was yet to be deliberated on due to the university’s recent convocation events.
Ndoma-Egba emphasised the urgency of addressing the issue, stating, “I am anxious to close that matter because the university is now being defined.”