UNN slams critic, Alex Onyia for ’embarrassing’ school
University of Nigeria Nsukka Responds to Criticism of Campus Infrastructure
The University of Nigeria Nsukka has publicly condemned recent remarks made by education advocate Alex Onyia regarding the state of infrastructure at the institution.
In a statement released by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Agha Egwu Inya, officials accused Onyia of arriving at the campus with predetermined intentions, accompanied by a television crew. He was reportedly prepared to document conditions at the Eni-Njoku hostel, a departure from his original agreement with the university.
Inya expressed disappointment, stating that Onyia’s actions portrayed the university unfavorably to the public. He drew a comparison between Onyia’s conduct and that of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, describing the latter as exemplifying “true alumni spirit.”
Onyia was invited to deliver the Herbert Macaulay Memorial Lecture organized by the university’s faculty. However, the university contended that he diverted the focus from mentorship and intellectual discussions to criticisms concerning hostel conditions.
According to university officials, Vice Chancellor Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya had already initiated renovation plans for the hostels prior to the emergence of Onyia’s criticisms. Inya stated, “What makes this behavior particularly unfair is that he was most likely aware that the university management had already awarded contracts for the renovation of some of the hostels.”
The university also criticized comments Onyia made during a television interview, in which he allegedly characterized the university environment as “stinking.” Furthermore, the institution addressed claims regarding the alleged eviction of a visually impaired student, asserting that these allegations were refuted by university authorities and other organizations, including the National Association of Nigerian Students.
The statement emphasized that inconsistencies in Onyia’s claims, supported by multiple independent sources, raise questions about his intentions and credibility. University officials urged that concerns about the institution should be addressed through constructive engagement and support, rather than public criticism.
Additionally, the statement highlighted Governor Soludo’s recent visit to the university, during which he acknowledged ongoing infrastructural improvements despite the challenges facing public tertiary institutions.
