Yemisi Izuora
The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi in Lagos has been commended for responding to public outcry following the controversy that trailed the suspicious Ph.D certificate said to have been acquired by
the institute’s former Acting Director General, Igwe.
In a statement on Wednesday signed by its Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju
Suraju, Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource
Centre) said FIIRO has met the expectation of the public by appointing a new Acting Director General in the face of raging controversy over the reputation of the institution’s former boss.
“We commend the action of FIIRO Board of Directors and the staff for saving the institute from international embarrassment. The appointment of a new Acting DG was long overdue but never too late. We commend FIIRO for responding to HEDA’s demand and the staff for standing up to justice
and the rule of all,” HEDA stated
The acclaimed anti-corruption group had led a sustained campaigns for sanity in FIIRO after its former DG was found to have acquired a
questionable Ph.D.
HEDA had also raised eyebrows over corrupt malpractices linked to the former DG.
FIIRO in a letter dated February 11, 2020 had appointed Dr (Mrs) Agnes Asagbra as the new Acting General and Chief Executive Officer of the research Institute.
She would oversee the activities of the institute pending the appointment of a substantive DG.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Governing Board, Ibrahim Dan Azumi Gwarzo had issued a letter appointing Asgbara as the Acting DG.
HEDA said while it commended FIIRO for the appointment of the Acting DG, the corruption cases levelled against Igwe must not be swept under the carpet.
“We are glad that the first bridge has been crossed. What remains now is
the prosecution of Igwe to ascertain the veracity of the cases of gross
abuse of office and corruption levelled against him.
His removal is a good development but the issues of fraudulent claims and corruption has
to be pursued to its logical and logical conclusion for the sake of posterity,” HEDA stated
