Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Wednesday, vowed to investigate the findings of Ambrose Ali University (AAU), Ekpoma Special Intervention Team, reaffirming his government’s commitment to repositioning the university and restoring the lost glory of the state-owned tertiary institution.
The governor made this known when he received an interim report of the Special Intervention Team on Wednesday.
Obaseki, while receiving the report at the Government House in Benin City, commended the team for their service to the State and contributing their quota in advancing the government’s vision of repositioning the institution to meet global standards.
He said, “The greatest legacy for late Prof. Ambrose Alli is to restore this University back to its glory days and that of his dreams. He never made the University to be an ethnic university but a state university and positioned it as such.
“The view that the AAU belongs to any group or ethnic group should be canceled immediately. The University belongs to Edo people. It’s Edo State University and the investment is for taxpayers of Edo State.”
Obaseki continued: “As a government, we have the political will as we are taking a major transformation in our education sector and can do so with our University. We need to clean up the system preparing it for our children coming in.
“I appreciate the professionalism and commitment taken in the assignment by the Special Intervention Team of the AAU. We persuaded most of you to take up this task as it’s an assignment for the state and nation.
“Even though you have not finished the assignment, it’s clear that you have put in a lot of time and commitment to get us where we are today.”
The governor further noted, “Your reports show that there is a criminal aspect in your investigation submitted so far. We don’t have to wait for a full report. That is why I invited the security agencies to commence action and investigation on the criminal aspect of your findings today.”
Reacting to the encroachment of AAU land, Governor Obaseki noted, “In the case of encouragement, we would take our Special Intervention Team to dialogue with those that encroached on the school land and properties to take it back.”
On the issue of the implementation of pension reforms, Obaseki said, “We have to sit down and have a team to go through the figures and have the actual calculations done. Then we set up a plan on how to liquidate the outstanding gratuity and pension.
“We want a survey done to know how many children of the staff of AAU attend that University to see if they are happy with the school and are ready to give their children such education or are taking money from AAU to give better education to their children elsewhere.”
Speaking on behalf of the AUU SIT, Mr. Austin Osakue thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve the State, pledging their continued support to the government in repositioning the University.
