University lecturer, Augustine Nwagbara, a professor who was sacked by a Ghanaian university in June 2019, has been offered fresh employment by Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State.
Vice Chancellor of AE-FUNAI, Chinedu Uzoma Nwajuba, on Wednesday organised a grand homecoming reception for the Professor where he was offered the opportunity to complete his Sabbatical at the University.
Report says Professor Nwagbara was sent packing from the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana, where he was on sabbatical, after a video where he was addressing an informal meeting of Nigerians in Ghana went viral on social media including Facebook.
Nwagbara, in the video, was seen lambasting Ghanaian government on how they maltreat Nigerians, and urged his colleagues to employ the Nigerian media to take up the fight, a development, the Ghanaian authorities and the University said was inciting and a threat to peace.
Nwagbara was further arrested and interrogated by Ghanaian Police Service over the viral video and later released before he was dismissed.
Nwajiuba, at the reception, alongside other senior staff of the University, at the Vice Chancellor’s Conference Room, assured Nwagbara his support and other management of the university.
“We need to get back our pride, we are great people and you are an enviable example,” Nwajiuba said.
He noted that FUNAI, as a young university, needed serious-minded people like the university don, and expressed hope that he would leave University of Lagos to stay permanently in AE-FUNAI.
“You must believe in something, stand on what you believe,” Nwajiuba said, saying, “we as a university community are proud of you and glad to welcome you in our midst.”
Professor Philip Omoke DVC (administration) in his remarks said the AE-FUNAI, today was the only university that graduates its students on record time, send them for youth service, hold convocation and give out certificate on the spot the same day without encumbrances.
Responding, the embattled Professor said he was proud to be in AE-FUNAI as a Nigerian.
He recounted his ordeal in Ghana after making the video about the education system in Ghana and the place of Nigeria academia there and in the West Africa sub-region, went viral
He solicited for an opportunity while in the university to tell Nigerians what they could gain by promoting our education system, and stated that this could best happen through public lectures.
He further urged the University Management to make AE-FUNAI a rallying centre for recovery, revival and consolidation of the country’s cultural heritage and dignity.
