Welcome to Francis Ndimkoha's Blog.

...As Dr. Blessing Ijioma rips off staff to build war chest The last has not been heard about the scheming of the sit tight provost of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, Dr. Blessing Ijioma who would rather have the institution in crisis than quietly retire. The latest trick in the bag is that staff of the institution now receive 90% or less of their salaries as against what it used to be. Most of the staff who spoke on condition of anonymity, for fear of being hounded by security operatives, as has become the lot of most of the union leaders, lately, opined that it is glaring that the provost is using proceeds from the salary slash to fund her sit ambition. Dr. Ijioma who turns 65 on 2nd of August, 2017, is meant to have proceeded on terminal leave two months ago, but has employed every trick in the bag to remain in office. A source in the bursary informed our reporter that the Federal Government usually gives 75% of the staff salaries as subvention while...

... Mandates Governing council to withdraw "approval letter" given to the Provost Following the directive of the Nigerian Senate given to the Governing council of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, to meet with the unions in the institution within two weeks and resolve the leadership impasse, involving the Provost of the institution, Dr. Blessing Ijioma, which is threatening the peace and stability of second generation citadel of learning, the four unions under the aegis of Joint Action Committee (JAC) held a congress on Tuesday 25th July, 2017. The directive which was handed down through the Senator representing Imo East senatorial district and Chairman Senate committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Samuel SamDaddy Anyanwu and addressed to the chairman of the Governing council was a by product of the meeting held in the Senate chambers on Thursday 20th July, 2017. The JAC which is made up of the leadership of COEASU, SSUCOEN, ...

...Plans to hold on to power until Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri becomes a University The journey to a full fledged and legally backed University of Education continued today in the Red chambers, as the Senate held a public hearing which is part of the process of upgrading the college of Education to a University of Education. The venue was Conference room 022. Obviously, the very thought of this becoming a reality is the prime purpose of Dr. Blessing Ijioma's insistence of continuing in office, against odds. This is a woman who got employment into the institution in 1977 and by 2017, has both attained the age of 65 and put in 40 years of service. You may ask "how" she intends to achieve her scheming, and this is it; While sitting in her office as Provost of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, Dr. Blessing Ijioma has suddenly become a "Professor", and insists on being addressed as such. If her claims of being appoin...

...University grounds the research effort of her students By Francis Udoka Ndimkoha Sometime last year, precisely in November, a certain Aniekeme Finbarr posted on his Facebook page, about the research work of his younger brother, a Student of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, which caught my attention. It was solar powered Tricycle (Keke). According to the update, his younger brother Ekomobong has produced a Solar powered Tricycle popularly known as " Keke", as his final year research project. The report quickly caught my attention and I sent Finbarr a message requesting his younger brother's contact, so as see the research work myself and be sure. He obliged me, and I reached out to Ekomobong Aniekeme and agreed to visit him in school the next day. Next day, we set out FUTO, in company of Chux Ogu and Jideofor Aluka. The students, a team of five students who worked on the solar powered Tricycle, received us and ushered us into the offic...

How Dr. Blessing Ijioma has insisted on continuing in office beyond all age requirements. A visitor to the college situated along Orlu road, in the heart of Owerri Will first be greeted by this banner "appealing" to the college community to "support the provost to complete her tenure" Dr. Blessing Ijioma is the Provost of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, a position she has held for almost a decade. She was appointed provost in 2009/10 academic session and reappointed in 2014 to serve a fresh tenure of four years which ought to terminate in 2018, as her indicated in her letter to the council. Two clear facts stare in the face of the continued stay in office of Dr. Mrs Blessing Ijioma in office and they are biological age and age of service. Blessing Ijioma was employed at the old Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri in 1977, when the institution was state owned. Thus, by August 2017, she would have put in 40 years of service, an...

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara has sent a condolence message to the Family of Chief Dr. (Amb.) Ikenna Chidozie Aniche, Nke Nke Enyi Izuogu on the sad event of the death of their patriarch. The letter with Ref: NASS/Spk/Adm/Vol.1/0999, Dated 13th July 2017, was routed through the member representing Okigwe North Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Engr. Obinna Kingsley Onwubuariri The Speaker, writing on behalf of himself and the entire Green Chambers conveyed his heart felt sympathy to Chief Ikenna Chidozie Aniche. The condolence message read in part, "with a deep sense of sorrow we commiserate with you and your family on the passing to glory to your father, Chief Donatus Ikechukwu Clement Aniche". The burial of Chief Donatus Clement Aniche is slated for 5th August, 2017, at Amuro Okigwe.

... Extols his virtues as inspirational to youths Youths of Mbaitoli and Ikeduru Local Government Areas, under the aegis of Mbaike Youths Development Foundation in conjunction with Mbaike Consolidated Youth Federation (MYCF), on Saturday, 1st of July, 2017, honoured Sir Godfrey Nwosu popularly known as Don Lex, with an Mbaike Personality Award, in recognition of his outstanding and sterling qualities as well as his contribution to the growth and development of Mbaike nation and the Country at large. Speaking on the occasion, Sir Godfrey Nwosu who was ably represented by Barr. S.I. Azuama and delivered a lecture as the Keynote speaker in the annual entrepreneurship lecture series, charged the youths to work towards being employers of labour rather than just job seekers. Sir Godfrey Nwosu, born 39 years ago, holds Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Chemistry at the Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria and a Master of Science degree in Polymer Engineering at t...