Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) has dismissed reports alleging that its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ursula Ngozi Nosike Akanwa, was involved in the university’s recent staff recruitment exercise or the removal of any staff members.
In an official statement issued by the university’s Head of Public Relations and Protocol, Anyaso Anyaso, the institution described the allegations as false, misleading, and inconsistent with the facts surrounding the recruitment process.
According to the statement, the recruitment exercise was concluded before March 1, 2026, the date Prof. Akanwa officially assumed office as the 7th Vice-Chancellor of the university. MOUAU explained that the selection of successful applicants, issuance of appointment letters, and payroll capture had already been completed prior to her appointment.
The university further disclosed that the Federal Government approved the recruitment of 426 staff members, a decision that was also ratified by the University’s Governing Council. However, appointment letters were reportedly issued to 618 applicants, while 553 names were initially captured on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
Despite the higher number of names submitted, the university stated that the GIFMIS platform only processed and uploaded the 426 positions officially approved by the Federal Government and the Governing Council, in line with established regulations.
MOUAU also clarified that the Vice-Chancellor has no operational access or administrative control over the GIFMIS platform, stressing that she neither has the authority to add nor remove names from the Federal Government’s payroll system.
The institution therefore urged members of the university community, stakeholders, and the general public to disregard claims suggesting that Prof. Akanwa influenced the recruitment exercise or was responsible for the exclusion of any applicants.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability, and due process, the university encouraged the public to rely only on official communication channels for verified information. It also warned against the spread of unverified reports capable of misleading the public and damaging the reputation of the institution.
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MOUAU maintained that its management remains committed to upholding fairness and integrity in all administrative processes while ensuring that accurate information is made available to the public.
