by Hauwa Gambo

During the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede in Owerri’s latest Quarterly General Assembly (wait… what?!), its rector, Dr. Celestina Njoku gave the students a piece of her mind – and much more than they bargained for.

She warned them against ‘sorting’ (paying lecturers to pass exams), then against “mutilation of results”, then against sexual harassment, then against “all forms of exploitation”.

And she was just warming up.

“I urge any staff involved in any of these vices to desist from it forthwith. Anybody caught in any of such vices will face the commensurate music”, the Rector warned. Continuing, Mrs. Njoku enjoined staff to avoid lateness to work, absenteeism, loitering and truancy, stressing that rumour peddlers will end up destroying themselves and not the school.

Her message wouldn’t be complete if she didn’t face that specie of destructive elements called rumour mongers.

“Rumour peddlers will end up destroying themselves and not the Polytechnic. Anyone who destroys himself or herself should not accuse the Polytechnic management of witch-hunting him or her”, she said.

And, one for the road – on a fire that destroyed Hostel B.

“Both the Division of Student Affairs and hall supervisors had earlier warned the students not to cook in the hstels, yet they smuggle stoves into the halls of residence and cook inside their rooms. This is contrary to the rules and regulations of the institution”, Dr. Njoku said.

We already feel sorry for those students.