A 45 year old man, Dr. Paul Onyebuchi Enyi, from Izzi LGA of Ebonyi State who has Ph.D in Mathematics, works in Ebonyi state University as a cleaner, a development that has been widely condemned by many.
In an Exclusive interview with The Trumpet on Thursday, over the development, he acknowledged that he started working with Ebonyi state University as a cleaner in the year 2007 with SSCE and over the years, he got approval from the University to further his studies which gave him an avenue to study and have his first Degree, M.Sc and Ph.D in the year 2022.
But have been working as a cleaner up till date, and had presented his original certificates to the school management several times for conversion, but all to no avail.He called on government of Ebonyi State and well meaning Nigerians to intervene and place him accordingly in the University to avoid his Ph.d Certificate becoming a waste.
“I am Dr.Enyi Paul Onyebuchi, I a staff of Ebonyi State University.I was employed as a cleaner.I am still young when I was employed. I was employed as a cleaner because of the condition of things. But decided within me that I will not remain like this till I retire, which made me to further my education.
“We wrote exam for conversion and the played game with it. The said that some of us failed, but when some dignitaries intervened and asked them to provide the answer script, the refused to bring it out. The refused to give us our real mark, the played political game. Up till now, there is nothing like conversion.
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There is respect and dignity attached to having a Ph.D but unfortunately, it looks as if I wasted the money I would have used for another thing.
“I got my Ph.D in 2022; I did my final defence in 3rd Nov.2022.I am in the hands of God, whatever the want to do,let them do.I dropped the certificate and started hustling, one must not feed only in education. If Government feels like placing me where I am supposed to be, it’s good.
“But if the refused,I can’t kill myself,I will continue to hustle.My expectation from government is to place me in rightful place.I think it is high time the gave me what belongs to me.I am supposed to be a lecturer not a cleaner.
“Even my HOD wrote, recommending me for conversion but reaching Vice Chancellor’s office, it was ignored. All my original certificates, including the Ph.D was attached and submitted, but it was a game of who knows who. I am just praying to God, its left for Him to do His own.
When contacted for his reaction, the Public Relations officer of Ebonyi State University, Mr. Patrick Itumo expressed surprise over the issue, saying that it has not been long the University concluded everything about conversion, and many people applied for it but he doesn’t know wethere Dr. Enyi applied for it, or why he didn’t pass.
He urged him to write to the University Registrar or the Vice Chancellor to register his grievances, pledging to look into the matter.
“Well I don’t know about it,I am surprised to hear this.It has not been long University management concluded everything about conversion,and many people applied for it,but I don’t know wether he applied for it.If he applied for it,I don’t know why he didn’t pass the exam.
“Let him write a letter to the Vice Chancellor or Registrar indicating all these things and also come to our office.Give him my phone number,lets know what actually is the issue.
