Low ranking: UNIZIK VC heaps blame on strike

The Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Professor Charles Esimone, Monday, regretted that his ambition to see the citadel of learning rank number one position in Nigeria and 200 in the world was frustrated by the eight months strike embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The Chairman of the Nigerian Universities Ranking Advisory Committee (NURAC), Professor Emeritus Peter Okebukola, had at a summit in Abuja, broke the news of the Times Higher Education World Academic ranking which placed UNIZIK on 10th position in Nigeria and under 1500+ category in the world.

Esimone, while reacting to the report in Awka, on Monday, said the University deserved a far better placing had there been opportunity to present all basic parameters that were required for the ranking but prevented by ASUU/federal government logjam that just ended last week.

“We didn’t reach the optimum. We would have been about sixth or seventh because I was doing what is required strategically with the supply of information. What we achieved was just a work of faith. The basic parameters,  about four of them were not completed, including data about students distribution.

“The strike action did not allow the staff to provide the data needed. We thank God all the same. About four parameters we would have put in place to showcase what we have done”, Esimone said.