Tony Okafor, Awka
The Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Prof Charles Okechukwu Esimone has blamed the eight-month industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities( ASUU) for coming 10th position in Nigeria in the Times Higher Education ranking.
He said the university deserved a far better placing had there been opportunity to present all basic parameters that were required for the ranking.
Recall that the
Chairman of the Nigerian Universities Ranking Advisory Committee (NURAC), Prof Peter Okebukola broke the news of the ranking in Abuja when he returned from the Times Higher Education World Academic Summit in New York.
According to Okebukola, at least twelve Nigerian universities with Nnamdi Azikiwe University on the list had shown remarkable improvement in world rankings and were applauded at the Times Higher Education World Academic Summit which ended in New York on October 12.
The ranking released by the Times Higher Education, he said had two Nigerian universities in the 401 to 500 band.
But to Esimone, whose ambition it is to achieve number one position in Nigeria and at least 200 position for UNIZIK in the world, said on Monday in Awka, Anambra State, that the strike action by members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) played a major role in its lower ranking because basic parameters for the exercise were not completed.
He said: “We didn’t reach the optimum. We would have been about sixth or seventh because I was doing what is required strategically with the supply of information.
“What we achieved was just a work of faith. The basic parameters, about four of them were not completed, including data about students distribution.
“The strike action did not allow the staff to provide the data needed.
” We thank God all the same. About four parameters we would have put in place to showcase what we have done”, Esimone said.
The NURAC was set up by the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Abubakar Adamu Rasheed to mobilise Nigerian universities for and catalyse their participation in all global ranking schemes.
Over the last 12 months, NURAC has been working with all universities and building capacities to ensure the actualisation of this mandate.
