From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Enugu State Chapter, has dismissed allegations against the Registrar of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Dr. Celine Nnebedum, describing them as false and misleading.
In a statement yesterday, the student body expressed disappointment over a report published in the media regarding the visit of the National Senate President of NANS to UNN, adding that the report was influenced by individuals with hidden agenda.
NANS Enugu explained that its Senate President had visited UNN to present an award to the acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Chigbu Polycarp. However, it insisted that statements credited to him in the media report were inaccurate and misrepresented the situation.
“As a state leadership that is solidly on ground in the campuses, we make bold to state that the vile remarks made against the Registrar in the media report and credited to the Senate President were not borne out of any factual assessment of her actions but rather from a carefully orchestrated snare of deceit spun by mischievous individuals who sought to use the visit of the Senate President to further their agenda,” the statement said.
The group noted that Dr. Nnebedum’s strong commitment to due process and institutional integrity has earned her both supporters and critics.
“While we are not unaware of the fact that the Registrar’s uncommon commitment to due process and institutional integrity has earned her both friends and foes, we strongly believe that NANS should not be used as a tool to discourage such good virtues,” it added.
“Dr (Mrs) Celine Nnebedum is one of the most seasoned, principled, and dedicated administrators in UNN currently. Her unwavering commitment to the core values of integrity, transparency, and adherence to due process has earned her the respect of right-thinking members of the university community. Unfortunately, these same virtues have also made her a target for those who prefer a system riddled with impunity and disregard for established procedures.
“Contrary to the claims made against her, the UNN Governing Council has never found fault with her actions, let alone set up an investigative panel to probe her. This claim, like many others, is nothing but a fabricated tale designed to mislead the public and smear her image,” the statement read.
Addressing specific accusations, the student body said claims that the Registrar delayed hostel fumigation, obstructed digitization projects, or imposed unfair financial penalties on students were false.
On allegations of financial misconduct, NANS Enugu dismissed them as unsubstantiated, stating, “The idea that the Registrar sought illicit financial inducements is a laughable distortion of reality.
“There is no documented proof of such claims, and no legitimate investigation has ever substantiated such an accusation. The supposed imposition of unjust financial penalties on students was also a fabrication. University financial policies are never unilaterally implemented by the Registrar but follow established institutional frameworks.”
The group also debunked claims that she reversed staff postings in defiance of the acting Vice-Chancellor. They assured students and stakeholders that it remained committed to setting the record straight and urged them to disregard the allegations.