The Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, (UNIZIK), Professor Charles Esimone, has accused the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of being responsible for the institution's 10th position in the recent ranking of universities in Nigeria by the Times Higher Education (THE).
Reacting to the ranking which was revealed during THE's World Academic Summit in New York, Esimone on Monday said the institution deserved to rank higher than it did, disagreeing with the body's ranking.
The VC further blamed the ASUU strike for the low ranking of UNIZK, noting that it deterred the institution from completing the basic criterion necessary for the ranking.
Professor Esimone however thanked God for the position attained by the university.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Universities Ranking Advisory Committee (NURAC), Professor Emeritus Peter Okebukola, presented the ranking in Abuja after the summit.
According to the VC, his goal is to ensure the institution ranks first in Nigeria and at least 200 in the world's ranking.
“We did not reach the optimum. We would have been about sixth or seventh because I was doing what is required strategically with the supply of information.
“What we achieved was just a work of faith. The basic parameters, about four of them were not completed, including data about students’ distribution.
“The strike action did not allow the staff to provide the data needed. We thank God all the same.
"About four parameters we would have put in place to showcase what we have done,” the VC said.
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