Tech-U disowns professor claiming contractual debt

The authorities of the First Technical University, Ibadan (Tech-U) have debunked an online report in which a US-based professor, Godwin Sadoh, claimed that the university owes him several months’ salary based on a contract he allegedly entered into with a former acting pro-chancellor of the university, Professor Afolabi Oladapo.

In a statement on Wednesday by the university’s public relations officer, Akeem Lasisi, Tech-U expressed surprise that Sadoh could claim that he was contracted to assist to create a music programme “that would be rooted in 21st-century music technology” for the new university that was under construction at the time.

“Tech-U’s value is rooted in engineering, technology and sciences, all with technological, technical, vocational and entrepreneurial orientation. So, Sadoh’s specialisation is not even part of the institution’s mandate.

“Besides, he claims to have designed a music building, students’ concert hall and ‘the Performing Arts Centre’. All of these are surely in no way part of the university’s heritage,” the university said.

Tech-U also debunked Sadoh’s claim that he was asked to create “the academic programme for all the departments in the College of Agricultural Sciences,” saying that this also, “either by design or physically is non-existing on our campus.”

Mr Lasisi said further: “It is also instructive that Professor Sadoh is further claiming that he composed Tech-U’s anthem. This is very strange and, indeed, false. Our anthem has a living history. It was composed by Olufemi Ogunniran of Ogidiolu Afrocentric Media and Entertainment, with modification by the university management, based on inputs from a competition we launched on the project, with people from Ife-Ibadan axis mostly participating.

“Ogunniran, who studied Philosophy at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, is into music and other forms of entertainment.

“Others who contributed to the making of the anthem include Professor Femi Adedeji of the Music Department, OAU; and Dr Tolu Owoaje of the Music Department, University of Ibadan.

“We should add that the university ensured it gave honorarium to each of those whose submissions made reasonable sense even if such did not make it to the final stage.

“Sadoh had earlier sent a letter to the First Technical University, in which he made claims that could neither be verified nor supported by documents. A diligent search of records available in the university did not yield any evidence of his assumption of duty. As a matter of fact, he has been advised to take appropriate legal action if he has his facts.

“Unfortunately, he has chosen to adopt a method of online blackmail to attempt to bring the university into disrepute. The general public is hereby implored not to fall for this cheap blackmail and deliberate misrepresentation.”

The university stressed that it does not owe any member of its staff (full time, part time or contract) “as our salaries are paid on or before 24th of every month, and this is what we have been doing since the inception till date, without any inch of failure.”