AN OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR MONDAY OKPEBHOLO,
Executive Governor of Edo State,
Government House,
Benin City, Edo State.
Your Excellency,
History often judges leaders, not merely by the roads they construct or the projects they commission, but by the institutions they preserve for future generations. Strong institutions outlive governments, shape societies and become the enduring legacy of visionary leadership.
It is in this spirit that I, Dr. Osamudiamen Oziegbe, an alumnus of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, residing in Canada, respectfully write on behalf of concerned stakeholders of our great University. This appeal is born neither out of bitterness nor partisan interest, but from a profound sense of duty to an institution that has transformed countless lives and has remained one of the greatest intellectual assets of Edo State for more than four decades.
Before addressing the issues that have necessitated this letter, permit us to acknowledge the commendable efforts of your administration. Across Edo State, your commitment to infrastructure development, responsive governance and people-centred leadership has inspired hope among many citizens.
Within Ambrose Alli University, your interventions have been particularly reassuring. The restoration of improved staff welfare, the constitution of a substantive Governing Council and the appointment of a substantive Vice-Chancellor signalled the beginning of what many believed would be a new era of stability, accountability and academic excellence. Staff, students, alumni and friends of the University embraced those decisions with optimism and renewed confidence.
Sadly, Your Excellency, many stakeholders now fear that those lofty aspirations are gradually giving way to uncertainty.
The recent controversy surrounding the reported execution of an ICT Memorandum of Understanding valued at approximately ₦500 million, allegedly without the approval of the University's Governing Council, has generated widespread public concern. Regardless of the eventual findings of any official investigation, the incident has become a catalyst for broader conversations about governance, transparency and institutional accountability within the University.
Many members of the University community believe that the controversy is symptomatic of deeper challenges that deserve careful and impartial examination.
Across the campus, there are growing perceptions that established administrative procedures and long-standing university traditions are no longer being observed with the consistency expected of a great institution. Due process—the foundation upon which every reputable university rests—is increasingly perceived to be giving way to administrative discretion. Whether these perceptions are fully justified or not, they have undoubtedly weakened confidence within the University community.
Concerns have also been expressed regarding staff deployment, redeployment and transfers. Many employees believe that decisions affecting their careers do not always reflect established regulations, institutional experience or objective administrative considerations. Internal memoranda reportedly remain unattended for prolonged periods, thereby slowing decision-making and diminishing administrative efficiency.
The cumulative effect of these developments is evident in staff morale. Many academic and non-academic employees who once served the University with exceptional dedication now reportedly feel discouraged, uncertain and disconnected from the administration. Universities thrive on shared purpose, mutual respect and intellectual freedom. When confidence among those entrusted with teaching, research and administration begins to diminish, institutional excellence inevitably suffers.
The impact is increasingly visible on campus.
Since the commencement of the current semester, many stakeholders have observed a noticeable decline in the vibrancy that once defined Ambrose Alli University. Lecture halls, administrative offices and communal spaces no longer reflect the energetic academic atmosphere for which the institution was once celebrated. Students, too, appear affected by the prevailing mood, raising understandable concerns about the University's overall academic environment.
Your Excellency, universities are unlike conventional public institutions. They derive their strength not from the authority of individuals but from the supremacy of their statutes, traditions, collegial governance and respect for due process. Whenever these pillars become weakened, the consequences extend far beyond the tenure of any particular administration.
Ambrose Alli University occupies a unique place in the educational history of Nigeria. For over forty years, it has produced eminent professors, judges, medical practitioners, engineers, scientists, diplomats, entrepreneurs, journalists, public administrators and political leaders whose contributions continue to enrich Edo State, Nigeria and the international community. Such an institution deserves vigilant protection.
Another issue that continues to attract public attention relates to institutional priorities. At a time when many employees reportedly continue to grapple with economic hardship and await the full implementation of approved welfare measures, reports have emerged of substantial financial commitments, including a booklet-printing contract reportedly valued at over ₦100 million and the aforementioned ICT agreement.
Whether these reported transactions complied fully with applicable procurement laws, financial regulations and the University's governance procedures is a question that deserves objective, independent verification. Transparency is not merely a legal obligation; it is the currency of public confidence.
Your Excellency, institutions seldom collapse suddenly. They decline gradually—through the accumulation of small departures from due process, the erosion of confidence and the normalisation of practices that weaken institutional integrity. Wise leaders intervene before decline becomes irreversible.
As the Visitor to Ambrose Alli University and the custodian of Edo State's public institutions, history has entrusted you with both the authority and the responsibility to ensure that the University remains faithful to its founding ideals.
We therefore respectfully appeal that you commission an independent, transparent and comprehensive review of the University's administration. Such a review should objectively examine compliance with the University's enabling law, procurement procedures, financial commitments, administrative practices, staff welfare, governance processes and other matters that may be necessary to restore public confidence.
Should the outcome of such a review reveal deficiencies requiring corrective measures, we respectfully urge that appropriate action be taken strictly in accordance with the law and the recommendations of the University's Governing Council. Doing so would reinforce public confidence and further demonstrate your unwavering commitment to accountability, transparency and institutional excellence.
This appeal is not an indictment of any individual. Neither is it an attempt to politicise the affairs of the University. Rather, it is a sincere call for institutional renewal, motivated solely by our shared desire to preserve one of Edo State's greatest educational legacies.
Permit us, in closing, to ask a question that continues to resonate within the minds of many stakeholders:
Can any university attain its full potential when questions persist regarding governance, institutional priorities, staff welfare and compliance with established procedures?
We believe that the answer lies in courageous leadership, transparent governance and timely intervention.
Your Excellency has already demonstrated a willingness to reposition Ambrose Alli University. We respectfully urge you to complete that noble mission by ensuring that the institution remains firmly anchored on the principles of accountability, due process, fairness and academic excellence.
The destiny of Ambrose Alli University must never be left to uncertainty.
Generations yet unborn will remember the leaders who chose to protect its heritage when it mattered most.
May history record that under your stewardship, Ambrose Alli University did not merely survive its challenges—it emerged stronger, more accountable and better positioned to reclaim its place among Africa's finest universities.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of our highest regards.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Osamudiamen Oziegbe
For and on behalf of Concerned Stakeholders of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma
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