Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos, has opposed the sacking and detention of a Nigerian professor in Ghana.
The University of Education (UEW), Ghana had in a statement on Wednesday said it sacked Prof. Augustine Nwagbara, over “unethical and damning” comments he made about the country and its education system.
Prof. Nwagbara, who was on sabbatical, appeared in a viral video urging a group of people to employ the media from Nigeria to reshape the reportage of Nigerians based in Ghana.
The professor of English Language said that the quality of education in Nigeria was better than that of Ghana, in condemnation of fees paid by Nigerian students in Ghana.
After the video went viral, Nwagbara was arrested by the Ghanaian police and accused of inciting the public.
He was later released on bail but asked to report to the police periodically “until a final determination of the case”.
UNILAG ASUU Chairman, Dele Ashiru, in a statement on Thursday, said the union condemned the treatment of the academic.
“It is the opinion of our union that no matter how scathing the views of Professor Nwagbara may be to the authorities of the university at Winneba, the government and people of Ghana, the fact remains that Professor Nwagbara’s views should be viewed within the context of academic freedom guaranteed by Article 3 and 4 of the Kampala Declaration on Intellectual Freedom and Social Responsibility which states that:
‘No African intellectual shall in any way be persecuted, harassed or intimidated for reasons only of his or her intellectual work, opinions, gender, nationality or ethnicity.
‘Every African intellectual shall enjoy the freedom of movement within his or her country and freedom to travel outside and re-enter the country without let, hindrance or harassment. No administrative or any other action shall directly or indirectly restrict this freedom on account of a person’s intellectual opinions, beliefs or activity,’” the statement said.
The union called for all concerned to “ensure the safety of Professor Nwagbara’s life and property.”
