. …As NUC approves 13 additional courses

By Steve Oko

The Management of Gregory University Uturu, GUU, has alerted the public about the nefarious activities of fraudsters who specialize in extorting unsuspecting admission seekers  while promising to offer them direct entry admission.

This is as the university has announced the appointment of Professor Celestina Njoku as its first female Vice Chancellor.

A statement signed by the Acting Public Relations Officer of the institution, Ebubechi Iwuh, warned of severe action against anyone behind the scam.

It encouraged members of the public to visit the university’s  official website and its social media handles in order to obtain updates on developments within the institution, and avoid falling victim.

It read in part: ” The Management of Gregory University Uturu, Abia State wishes to alert the public of a fraudulent advertisement on 2024/2025 Direct Entry Admissions.

“Please be informed that the university is not currently admitting students for the 2024/2025 academic session through Direct Entry. Be aware that any advertisement or notification from one Dr Anita, requesting payment into an account in the name of Gregory University Uturu, is a scam. The university will not be held responsible for any financial loss or damage arising from dealing with the aforementioned imposter”.

A separate statement by Rev. Sleek Ogwo, said the new VIce Chancellor, who was until her recent appointment, the Dean of the School of Post Graduate Studies, was appointed  following the elevation of  the former VC,  Prof Augustine Uwakwe, to the position of Pro- Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council.

The statement further disclosed that the university had also received full accreditation for 13 out of 16 of its courses evaluated last year by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

It said that the result of the evaluation was contained in a letter conveyed to the Vice Chancellor by  NUC, through the Commission’s  Acting Director of Accreditation, Engr. Abraham Chundusu.

According to the statement, three courses were given interim accreditation in the exercise conducted  between October and November 2023.

It noted that 44  programmes of the university including Medicine and Surgery, Law, Computer Science, among others spread across 10 Colleges and Post Graduate Studies, already had full accreditation, thus bringing to 57,  the total number of courses with full accreditation in the university.

Some of the courses that received full accreditation status in the latest evaluation exercise include: Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Geology, Anatomy, Physiotherapy, Radiography and Radiation Sciences, Education Mathematics, Education Biology, Education Chemistry, French Language, History and International Studies.

Continuing, the statement said that “while such programmes as M.Sc. Accounting and M.Sc.Business Administration were given accreditation respectively, Architecture, Pharm D and Optometry, which were being evaluated for the first time, conventionally received interim accreditation ratings. “

The statement quoted the new VC as commending the NUC “for a job well done”, while pledging the institution’s preparedness to sustain a healthy mutually beneficial relationship with the regulatory agency.

Reaffirming the institution’s commitment to high standards and quality assurance, Prof Njoku, according to the statement,  appreciated staff and students of the university for their dedication to academic excellence.

While acknowledging the sterling efforts of her predecessor in realizing the vision of the institution, the new VC promised to sustain the tempo by “providing a conducive academic environment, a campus devoid of fear and intimidation but ruled by a high level of discipline, respect for the dignity of man and the pursuit of excellence in all ramifications.”

She solicited renewed support and cooperation from both academic and non academic staff members, to enable the institution attain new enviable heights in the core areas of curriculum development, research, entrepreneurship and knowledge transfer.