The Abia State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the suspension of Prof. Nnamdi Nwaeze of the Department of Economics, Abia State University (ABSU), over comments concerning salaries paid to academic staff of the institution.

The party described the suspension as unjust and called on the Abia State Government and the management of ABSU to immediately reinstate the academic.

Addressing journalists, the APC State Publicity Secretary, Chief Uche Aguoru, said Prof. Nwaeze was a known voice in the state who had consistently spoken against what he considered bad governance and injustice.

Aguoru said Nwaeze’s advocacy did not begin with the present administration, noting that the professor had raised similar concerns during previous administrations in the state.

According to him, the professor’s major offence was speaking out against what he described as unfair treatment of members of the academic community at ABSU.

He argued that poor remuneration could discourage qualified professionals from taking up lecturing jobs and potentially create pressures that could affect the quality of education.

Aguoru therefore urged the state government and ABSU management to withdraw the disciplinary action and recall Nwaeze to his duties.

On the internal crisis within the Abia APC, particularly the 14-day ultimatum reportedly issued to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Hon. Chris Nkwota, Aguoru said the party had constituted a disciplinary committee to look into the matter.

He added that those involved in the dispute were cooperating with the committee, expressing confidence that the matter would be resolved through the party’s internal mechanisms.

Speaking on the controversy surrounding the APC’s Abia South Senatorial ticket and the party’s ticket for the Ukwa East/West Federal Constituency, Aguoru declined to comment.

He explained that the two matters were currently before courts of competent jurisdiction and therefore would not be discussed by the party at this stage.

By Sunday Anyim Okorie, Joy Nlebedum and Ginger-Eke Collins

The Vice-Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Prof. Ursala Ngozi Akanwa, has expressed the University’s readiness to deepen strategic international partnerships that will advance research, innovation, scholarship exchange, capacity building for the University’s global visibility.

Prof. Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, stated this while receiving a high-level delegation from the University of Waterloo (UWaterloo), Ontario, Canada, led by Mr. Grant Leach, Senior Recruiter and Business Development Strategist at the University.

Prof. Akanwa described the visit as a valuable opportunity to connect MOUAU’s academic and research expertise with global partners, stressing that the University remained open to collaborations capable of creating meaningful opportunities for researchers, academic staff and students.

She emphasized that strategic international partnerships would enable the University to strengthen research development, knowledge exchange and sustainable development, particularly in areas where collaborative efforts could produce measurable impact.

The engagement, held at the Conference Room of the Vice-Chancellor in the presence of the University’s expanded Management team, provided an opportunity for both institutions to explore areas of mutual interest and pathways for sustainable collaboration.

The University of Waterloo delegation, which included Dr. Adra Raine, Associate Director, Pan-African Initiative for Research (PAIR), and Prof. Onyeka Ezeh, Professor of Linguistics, presented opportunities available to prospective partner institutions.

Mr. Leach and other members of the delegation highlighted University of Waterloo’s research ecosystem, innovation platforms, academic networks and opportunities for international collaboration.

In a reciprocal presentation, the Director, Directorate of Advancement, MOUAU, Prof. Kennedy Onyelowe, showcased the University’s academic, research and infrastructural strengths, particularly in agriculture, science, technology, innovation and other multidisciplinary fields.

Prof. Onyelowe’s presentation highlighted the expertise and institutional resources available at MOUAU and demonstrated its potential as a strategic partner for international institutions.

The meeting subsequently featured an open exchange on possible areas of collaboration, with both institutions exploring practical ways of translating the identified opportunities into sustainable partnerships.

The engagement marks another step in MOUAU’s drive to strengthen its international profile, expand collaborative research opportunities and position itself as a globally competitive institution.

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, has visited the NYSC Abia State Orientation Camp to assess the facilities and ensure that the welfare and safety of corps members undergoing the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Orientation Course are prioritised.

The visit, which took place on the eighth day of the orientation exercise, also provided the NYSC Director-General an opportunity to interact with corps members, inspect the ongoing renovation of the camp and engage with the state authorities on areas requiring further support.

Speaking during the visit, the NYSC State Coordinator in Abia, Mr Yunusa Tanimu, revealed that 1,753 corps members comprising 760 males and 993 females were registered for the orientation exercise.

Tanimu expressed delight at receiving the Director-General and his entourage, describing the corps members deployed to Abia as disciplined, enthusiastic and adaptable to the regimented nature of the orientation camp.

He said camp activities, including lectures, parade drills, military manoeuvres, sports, social activities and the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, were progressing smoothly, with corps members actively participating.

According to him, the camp clinic is being managed by 12 medical doctors, 19 nurses, 13 pharmacists and 21 other health personnel, working alongside a doctor and a nurse from the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, to attend to the health needs of the camp community.

The coordinator said security around the camp had remained relatively stable, adding that the NYSC was working with security and law enforcement agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, access control and general security within and around the camp.

He also noted that market operators within the camp had also been accredited and issued identification cards as part of measures to improve security.

Highlighting some of the achievements recorded since his assumption of office, Tanimu said 251 plastic chairs were procured during the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Orientation Course, while another 110 chairs were procured for the ongoing exercise.

He added that the camp entrance and outer walls had been painted and decorated with NYSC inscriptions, while a ramp was constructed at the multipurpose hall to provide wheelchair access to the stage in line with the organisation’s policy on inclusivity.

The coordinator also disclosed that efforts had been made to attract additional support for the camp, including a donation of 100 chairs.

Tanimu commended the Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, for his support for NYSC operations in the state, both within and outside the orientation camp.

He listed some of the support provided by the state government to include renovation of the camp’s public areas and multipurpose hall, construction of internal walls, provision of solar power and 46 streetlights, a 110 KVA generator, accommodation for the NYSC State Secretariat, as well as 61 sets of office desks, chairs and other furniture for the Secretariat.

On the state allowance promised to corps members serving in Abia, the coordinator said the governor had ordered its immediate implementation after some administrative bottlenecks were addressed.

However, Tanimu appealed for further intervention in some areas, including the high cost of diesel resulting from inadequate national grid power supply, the need for additional renovation and cleaning of some camp facilities, ambulance provision and expansion of hostel capacity.

He said some of the facilities were becoming inadequate due to the increasing number of corps members and appealed for continued support from relevant stakeholders

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The NYSC Director General Brig Gen. Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu while Addressing the corps members, said his visit was primarily to assess the condition of camp facilities and ensure that the welfare of corps members remained a priority.

The Director-General urged the corps members to take advantage of their service year to acquire skills, build networks and prepare for life after the NYSC programme.

He advised them to be prudent with their allowances and consider investing part of their earnings in businesses or other legitimate ventures that could provide income after their service year.

Nafiu encouraged the corps members to abandon the mindset of depending solely on government for employment, stressing the need to develop entrepreneurial skills and explore multiple sources of income.

He urged them to make friends, exchange ideas and interact positively with one another, noting that the NYSC programme was designed to promote national integration and expose young Nigerians to opportunities beyond their immediate environments.

The Director-General also encouraged the corps members to take advantage of the SAED programme and opportunities in the capital market, including learning about investments and other legitimate financial opportunities.

He further urged them to remain open-minded, identify opportunities around them and think creatively in addressing the challenges they may encounter after their service year.

The NYSC Director-General also reminded the corps members that the scheme was non-partisan and warned them against using their status as serving corps members to promote the political interests of individuals or political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He further cautioned them against travelling without obtaining the necessary authorisation from the appropriate NYSC authorities, particularly on long-distance journeys, citing the prevailing security situation in the country.

Speaking with journalists after the event ,Nafiu said he was impressed with the transformation of the Abia Orientation Camp compared with his previous visit.

He disclosed that the first phase of the renovation exercise had been completed, while the scheme was awaiting the commencement of the second phase.

According to him, the corps members were in Abia to serve the nation, integrate into the host community, promote national unity and cultural cohesion, and contribute to the socioeconomic development of the state.

Nafiu disclosed that about 53 medical doctors and more than 112 nurses were among the corps members deployed to Abia State, alongside teachers, engineers and professionals from other fields.

He urged the corps members to respect the culture and values of their host communities and encouraged residents of Abia to receive them as brothers, sisters and children who had come to contribute to the development of the state.

The Director-General also commended Governor Alex Otti for the support provided to the NYSC and appealed for additional assistance in areas where the camp still required intervention.

He said further requests would be discussed during his scheduled engagement with the governor.

Highlights of the visit included a quarter guard parade by corp members, cultural dance performances and the presentation of cash gifts to outstanding corps members who had distinguished themselves through good character and conduct during the orientation exercise.

Also present at the event were camp officials, directors and other senior officials of the NYSC, as well as other stakeholders who witnessed the activities marking the Director-General’s visit to the orientation camp.