COOU Vice Chancellor Defends ₦15,000 ICT Levy, Says It Is a Strategic Investment in Students’ Digital Future

The Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha, has clarified that the controversial ₦15,000 ICT charge imposed on students is not an application or service fee, but a long-term institutional investment aimed at strengthening the university’s digital infrastructure and improving academic service delivery.

The clarification was made during an interactive session with students held at the ETF Auditorium, Igbariam Campus, on Thursday, April 23, 2026, as part of activities marking the university’s 16th Convocation Week.

The engagement was convened following growing online criticism and misinformation circulating among students, which had sparked concerns over the purpose and legitimacy of the charge.

Addressing the issue directly, the Vice Chancellor explained that the levy is fully dedicated to the development of a robust Information and Communication Technology system designed to modernize academic and administrative operations within the institution.

She stressed that the project is not limited to any single application or platform, but is a comprehensive digital transformation initiative that will enable students and alumni to access academic records, including transcripts, remotely from any part of the world.

According to her, the system is being developed to eliminate long-standing challenges associated with physical documentation processes, delays in transcript issuance, and administrative bottlenecks that have previously affected both current students and graduates.

She further noted that in an increasingly global academic and professional environment, seamless access to verified academic records is no longer optional but essential, especially for graduates who may need to present credentials across different countries and institutions on short notice.

Prof. Omenugha explained that the initiative forms part of a broader institutional shift from analogue systems to a fully digitized framework aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and global competitiveness across all university operations.

She acknowledged that while the financial contribution may appear burdensome in the short term, the long-term benefits far outweigh the immediate cost, describing it as a necessary investment in the future of the institution and its students.

The Vice Chancellor also addressed concerns about the spread of negative narratives regarding the university, warning against the circulation of unverified information that could damage the institution’s image.

She urged students to seek clarification through official channels before reacting to sensitive issues, noting that reputational damage to the university ultimately affects all stakeholders.

Emphasizing collective responsibility, she reminded students that the university’s reputation is a shared asset, stating that actions taken by members of the community directly influence how the institution is perceived externally.

She further encouraged students to align with the university’s guiding principles of Values, Viability, and Visibility, assuring them that management decisions are made with both institutional progress and student welfare in mind.

The session ended with renewed calls for trust, dialogue, and collaboration between students and university leadership as COOU continues its digital transformation agenda.