IMT Has Zero Tolerance For Cultism, Exam Malpractices, Says Rector

Posted by Ignatius Okpara Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Wednesday, May 5th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Rector, of Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, Prof. Austin Uchechukwu Nweze, has said that the school has zero tolerance for cultism , examination malpractice and all manner of misconducts.

He said his vision is not only to make the school one of the best in Nigeria, but to ensure before leaving office that the institute is upgraded from polytechnic to a stand-alone university.

Prof. Nweze who is an accountant by training and serving the first year after his re-appointment for second tenure in office stated this yesterday while speaking with some newsmen in Enugu.

He said: “The thinking of His Exellency, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has been to make IMT a stand-alone university and that was the charge he gave to us when we were inaugurated both as management and council.

” We are very hopeful by the grace of God when the necessary things are done IMT would have been upgraded from polytechnic to full-fledged university and that would be a plus to the present Enugu State Government led by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi “.

The Rector hinted that when he assumed office about five years ago, the Institution was faced with a number of challenges including Infrastructural decay, content programme decay, man power decay and mirage of other problems.

“To the glory of God the first thing we did was to take stock as an accountant and that is my back ground. It was when we took stock that we got to know in terms of quality of staff, in terms of infrastructure and programme content.

” We found out that as at that day, IMT had 951 staff, some academic and some non-teaching staff and the first academic board meeting we had l now told them of the plan to upgrade IMT from polytechnic to a university”.

He further stated that when he assumed office in 2016, he found out that some academic staff were not qualified to teach in a university, should the institute be upgraded from polytechnic to a full-fledged university.

Prof. Nweze, therefore expressed happiness that a good number of the academic staff who decided to improve themselves academically had completed their programmes here in Nigeria and abroad while others are in the process of doing so.

He said IMT is the cheapest in the country in terms of payment of school fees, collecting forty thousand naira (N40,000) per year, Prof. Nweze, commended, Governor Ugwuanyi for adequately funding the institution.

“When we came on board in 2016, about 80 to 90 percent programme had expired in terms of accreditation dating back 2011, 2012 section and there is no way we can continue to run programmes without re-accreditation and that is quality assurance we are talking about.

“We presented 19 programmes for re-accreditation, because we didn’t have the funds we went to governor Ugwuanyi cap in hand to beg for money and he was able to give us up to N300million to enable us to appreciate accreditation, renovate and rehabilitate some of the offices and dilapidated buildings.

“For 19 programmes, Governor gave us N300million, and for 38 programmes he gave us N350million and between the first and second accreditation government also intervened in Infrastructural development to the tune of N2billion resulting in putting in place high rising buildings and rehabilitation of roads on campus.

“The projects were partly funded by TETFund and partly by the Enugu State government and that is why IMT is now wearing a new look”, he added.

“l don’t play with workers welfare. We are not owning salaries. IMT has zero tolerance to cultism and exam malpractice and that is why l have always told matriculation students to read hard to acquire good degree to develop themselves and that is the main reason for sending them to school, other things are secondary”. he stated.