The Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, has held an interactive session with Year One Course Representatives of the institution.
The engagement provided students with an opportunity to voice concerns affecting their academic activities and welfare.
The meeting, which brought together students from different faculties and departments, served as a platform for discussions on issues ranging from inadequate classroom facilities and lecture scheduling to security concerns and challenges with course registration.
Speaking during the session, students highlighted several challenges affecting their academic activities and overall welfare within the University.
Ikechukwu Uche Joy of the Department of Science Education complained that some lecturers fail to use available sound systems during lectures, making it difficult for students to hear properly in crowded classrooms.
She also noted that lecturers sometimes distribute numerous handouts shortly before examinations despite not covering them adequately during lectures. According to her, the high cost of workbooks also poses difficulties for many students.
From the Pre-Medical Department, Perry-Njoku Chukwuebuka raised concerns over overcrowded classrooms, poor ventilation, outdated whiteboards, lack of public address systems and insufficient restroom facilities. He further complained about delays in the collection of students’ identity cards.
Similarly, Ikenna Akachukwu Bright of the Mathematics Department identified inadequate classroom spaces as one of the major problems affecting students’ learning conditions.
Other students also raised concerns bordering on insecurity within some parts of the campus, clashes in lecture timetables, poor electricity supply in classrooms, and difficulties encountered during course registration.
Students further drew the attention of the University management to overgrown bushes around the Architecture Studio, which they said has led to the presence of reptiles within the area.
Other students who contributed during the session included Nnamani Kelechukwu Samuel of the Architecture Department; Onuzuike Nkiruka Victoria of the Building Department; Anyabolu Omasilichukwu Jane of the Language Arts and Communication Department and Ojukwu Chukwudili Henry of the Department of Dental Surgery.
Responding to the students, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bond Ugochukwu Anyaehie commended them for speaking up and engaging constructively with the University management. He assured the students that their complaints would be given proper attention, emphasising that the University administration remains committed to improving students’ welfare and creating a conducive environment for learning.
Prof. Anyaehie encouraged students to always channel complaints through the appropriate structures within the University, stressing that issues such as lecturers missing classes should be formally reported for necessary action to be taken.
Addressing concerns over inadequate infrastructure, the Vice-Chancellor explained that the University is making efforts to construct additional buildings and classroom spaces despite funding challenges. According to him, ongoing and future classroom projects would be properly equipped with suitable seating arrangements, standard boards and facilities capable of supporting effective teaching and learning.
On the issue of expensive workbooks, Prof. Anyaehie disclosed that a committee would be set up to review the prices of books and other academic materials in order to make them more affordable for students. He further revealed that the University is making progress toward installing a solar power system that would help improve electricity supply across the institution, and also assured students that he would personally visit the Faculty of Agriculture to assess some of the challenges raised and determine necessary interventions.
Speaking on course registration and profiling challenges, the Director of MICTU (Software), Prof. Ikechukwu Onyenwe explained that departments are responsible for uploading and profiling student courses on the University portal. He stated that students are expected to consult their Heads of Department whenever they encounter issues such as missing courses during registration, adding that notifications have already been sent to students regarding the process.
Prof. Onyenwe further disclosed that efforts are ongoing to automate the course profiling system to ensure that students are not penalised for delays beyond their control.
Angel Network News (ANN) gathered that
the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Kingsley Ubaoji and the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Prof. Sunny Nduka, among others were present during the interactive session.
