Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has ordered immediate reinstatement of Godwin Ekpo, a final year Agric Engineering student of Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden who was expelled by the management of the institution.
TrackNews Online recalls that Ekpo was in June, 2021, expelled for an alleged act of misconduct which bothered on allegedly insulting the governor on his Facebook page.
The expulsion has generated a lot of controversy from members of the public, even as the governor intervened and set up a committee to investigate the matter.
However at the end of the State Executive Council meeting held at the Council Chambers, government house Uyo, on Thursday, the Governor after examining the report of the committee, directed that the student be recalled.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong and made available to journalists in Uyo, the reinstatement will take immediate effect.
“EXCO reviewed the AKSU expulsion case of Iniobong Ekpo and directed the University to immediately recall the said student,” the statement noted.
Also on the upsurge of cultism in some secondary schools in the State, the Governor disclosed that the problem was mainly from overaged students who most times were on a mission to recruit so many students into cult groups.
He, therefore, pegged the maximum age of admission into secondary school to 12 years, saying no child beyond that age should be admitted unless with cogent reasons and the parents/guardians must sign an undertaking of good behaviour.
“Since education is free in the state, the maximum age for admission into secondary schools has been pegged at 12 years, to curb the cultism surge in secondary schools.
“Investigation has revealed that the surge is caused mainly by overaged students who are on a mission of mass recruitment of students into cult groups.
“However, any student above this age with a genuine reason, will have their parents sign an undertaking of good behaviour, before their admission.”
The governor also encouraged the exco members to pay attention and mobilize people to participate in the Enumeration Area Demarcation and Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
He declared August 21, 2021, as the state coconut day, when 300,000 nuts will be planted to boost coconut production in preparation for the start of operation of the coconut oil refinery.
