EMPLOY MORE STAFF OR RETAIN YOUR FIRST CLASS GRADUATES - NUC TO FUO

The National Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation team to the Department of Physics, Federal University Otuoke, has recommended further staff employment at the Department of Physics, to meet the Department’s academic needs. 

This was part of the exit report presented by Professor Chidi Akuzor of the Federal University of Technology Owerri-led team on November 3, 2023.

Professor Akuzor said a situation where the Department has only one Assistant Lecturer without any Graduate Assistant calls for a prompt employment drive. 

“Our recommendation is that you employ more staff, or retain your first-class graduates,” he emphasized.

While thanking the Vice Chancellor for the hospitality accorded the team on their arrival, Professor Akuzor also highlighted areas the Department of Physics could consolidate and improve upon. These include the harmonization of the self-study form, handbook, and entry documents.

“One of the entry documents specified UTME while the other was Direct Entry. We needed clarifications on this and we were told the current batch of students were admitted based on UTME, but that the Senate is in the process of approving Direct Entry. There’s the need to harmonize these,” Professor Akuzor said. 

“As for the curriculum, it has its benchmark but elaboration and improvements are necessary.”

He, however, commended the Management for the adequate lecture halls and high-end equipment available at the Department.

“We went to the university Library. The place is clean and has a lot of books, but we need more current books and journals, especially from 2022-2023, in your databases,” Professor Akuzor said. 

“People in the Department of Physics need journals in Geophysics, which I think should be an area of strength for this institution because of the peculiar environment. 

Databases are good but there are also journals you cannot get in those data bases such as Scientific America. So there is a need to subscribe to such Geophysics journals. The local journals are well represented in the Library, thank you for that,” he added.

“Thank you for your frank assessment of the programme. Ours is to offer a commitment to improvement,” said the Vice Chancellor, Professor Teddy Charles Adias in response to the exit report. 

“The shelf-study and student’s handbook is being handled by the Dean and I’m sure it’s an oversight. As for the entry requirements, indeed it is true that we’ve opened our windows for Direct Entry and that is why we have started running the Geopet programme. So more students are coming through Direct Entry,” he added.

According to the Vice Chancellor, the issue of funding is a general problem in the country and not peculiar to FUO. However, the University is making use of Tetfund’s assistance in equipping programmes in the school. 

He also emphasized the low turnout of students for the programme. The NUC advised that Physics as a course could be merged and baptized into a new programme example Industrial Physics or Physics and Electronics as the case would be.

Present to witness the exit were, Professor Felicia Edu-Uwem Etim, the University Librarian, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Iheoma Adekunle, HOD Department of Physics, Dr. Nnamdi Emohen, incumbent DAP, Dr Offor, outgoing DAP Dr Amachree, SA to the VC, Mrs Andabi Amangi-Edomo, and Head of Publications Unit, Mrs Enobong Etukakpan.