Two students of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture (MOUAU) have reportedly been suspended from the Umudike, Abia State-based institution for allegedly refusing to attend a Taekwondo contest at the 29th World University Games held in Taiwan.
WuzupNaija reports that the competition took place in Taipei, Taiwan from 19 August to 30 August 2017.
According to the International Center for Investigative Reporting [ICIRNigeria], Ekwe Nelson Chibunna and Jideofor Ikejehovah, who were members of the school’s Taekwondo club, were suspended because they decided not to participate in the international competition because their head coach, Okechi Onwuka, was abruptly replaced with another university staff.
The duo were said to have written several letters appealing to the management to reinstate them so that they may graduate. Their appeal have, however, been to no avail.
According to the letter dated May 24, 2018, and signed by the registrar, Jacinta N. Ogwo-Agu, the decision to suspend was ratified by the University Senate at its sitting on April 18, 2018.
The document describes the boycott as “an act of insubordination” and “an embarrassment to the university and the nation”.
The letter reads,
“The University Senate, therefore, directed that you should be suspended from the University with immediate effect and your matter to be referred to the Students’ Disciplinary Committee.
“You are to hand over all property of the University in your possession, including your student identity card to the Department and vacate the university campus within 24 hours of receipt of this suspension letter.”
The suspended students said that MOUAU’s management reneged on an earlier promise to allow the coach to accompany them for the competition.
Chibunna, an Engineering student in his final year, said they were only told Onwuka would no longer be travelling a few days to departure, and this was why they decided to opt out.
He said the team believes the coach understands their fighting style and would prove more helpful to them than the other university staff members as he could help with management and the technicalities of the sport.
“We also believe that the competition will avail him the opportunity to learn and gain better experience which will improve the performance of the school taekwondo team,” he adds.
“We do not understand the rationale behind sending two non-taekwondo officials with two taekwondo athletes while dropping the school taekwondo coach. This might bring public ridicule to our great university.”
Onwuka, who has volunteered as the university’s taekwondo coach since 2008 and was employed as a lecturer in 2013, was also queried and accused of inciting the students to boycott the competition.
He told The ICIR that the athletes have sacrificed a lot to represent the institution with little support from the management. In winning numerous medals for the school, Onwuka said he has spent time and personal money.
He said,
“My efforts to convince the chairman of the Sports Committee, Chukwuemeka C. Chukwurah, and the University that the students are so immature to be exposed to such risk, as this is a combat sport, without their personal coach couldn’t yield any result,” Onwuka explains.
“The university rarely sponsors us to participate in competitions outside the Nigerian University Games (NUGA).
“We train at the rough lawn tennis courts for lack of an indoor sports hall. I buy most of the equipment, handle training logistics and sponsor most of the competitions even when I am not under any emolument as a school coach.”
