A former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Emeritus Andrew Onokerhoraye, has described the reasons given by the institution stripping him of his appointment as professor emeritus as unfounded.

The former VC, in a written response to the UNIBEN authorities through the Registrar, Mrs. Ogboghodo, stated that the university wrongly informed the Senate  in a memo that he was not meeting the responsibilities of the appointment including supervision of post-graduate students and attendance of Senate meetings.

According to him, the letter of appointment,  written by the Registrar confirming the appointment on behalf of the Governing Council of UNIBEN with reference REG/SSA/P.911/82  and dated 19th January, 2011, indicated that  the appointee professor emeritus “shall have no routine responsibilities assigned to you, but you may, on invitation, supervise postgraduate students and offer advice.”

Onokerhoraye pointed out that the letter of appointment indicated that when he was invited to Senate meetings, he was not obligated to attend, saying that despite these privileges, he had voluntarily made his contributions in assisting the university whenever he was called upon. The former VC referred the Registrar to five current Ph.D students under his supervision and “most of whom had almost successfully defended their theses”, and reminded the authorities that he had attended several Senate meetings voluntarily when he was invited, even though he was not compulsorily required to attend.

He explained that he found the UNIBEN’s allegation that he never attended Senate meetings as curious because many active professors and members of Senate did not attend every Senate sitting. The former VC stated further that the accusations of UNIBEN were misleading and libellous and advised that they be withdrawn as they misrepresented the facts and belittled his numerous contributions to the university for which he was given the appointment, which is usually a life-long honour.