Prof. Ayandiji Aina, Vice-Chancellor, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, has lauded the management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) for sacking a lecturer, Prof. Richard Akindele, who was found guilty of sex-for-mark scandal.
Aina, who gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday, said the punishment would serve as a deterrent to others who were also found engaging in such evil act.
According to him, the decision of OAU was in the `right direction’ towards sanitising the Nigeria education system.
“OAU did the right thing by sacking the professor involved in the scandal.
“In fact, they should have done it faster because if it was in the private university it won’t take that long,’’ he said.
The vice-chancellor said that every university should have its own philosophy and anyone not grounded on moral should be phased out.
He said this is because universities were expected to graduate students who have been found fit in learning and character and would not be able to produce such, if they can’t give it.
“During graduation, we say we graduate students who have been found fit in learning and character, so anyone who cannot dispense good character should close shop.
“At Caleb University, one of our hallmarks is sound character both for the lecturers, non-academics and students and our lecturers do not compromise on that.
“We actually care less about what is happening elsewhere because that is not our university though they are giving us bad image.
“What we do is to focus on getting the best for our university so as to become role models and attract positive influence,’’ he said.
He urged Nigerian university administrators who could not dispense good character to its students to honourably ease out of the system.
NAN reports that a viral audio of a sex-for-mark scandal of Prof. Richard Akindele of OAU was on April 10, posted on the social media by a masters degree student of the institution, Miss Monica Osagie.
The lecturer had in the audio demanded sex with the student five times in order to upgrade her score from 33 per cent to a pass grade in a course.
Meanwhile, the Governing Council of OAU on June 20, dismissed the professor for gross misconduct having been found culpable of the allegations levied against him. (NAN)