At least 28 students of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu are set to face disciplinary action for their involvement in 'sorting' – the practice of bribing lecturers to upgrade academic scores.

This was disclosed by the IMT Rector, Professor Gozie Ogbodo, during a visit by PhD students on internship from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology's Institute for Peace, Conflict and Development Studies (IPCDS), led by Dr. Ben Nwoye.

"There was a menace that I inherited called sorting. Today, I have banned sorting, and there is a popular cliche that the sorter and the sorted will be punished because it takes two to tango," Prof. Ogbodo stated. "I have about 28 cases of people who have attempted to sort, and we are handling it."

Comprehensive Reforms at IMT

The Rector outlined several reforms implemented since his assumption of office in November. Upon taking the position, he discovered that over 70% of the institution's academic programmes had expired accreditations, prompting him to declare a state of emergency.

"By the special grace of God, the governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, was very supportive, and we were able to subject the programmes to accreditation in April," he said. "This week, I received official notification that we scored 100% in the accreditation process. More importantly, we were granted full accreditation for all programmes – the first in IMT's history."

Other reforms include enforcing mandatory student attendance, with students required to attend at least 70% of lectures to qualify for examinations. The institution has also implemented a strict dress code, requiring students to wear departmental uniforms to gain entry to the campus.

"I have set up two monitoring teams that check daily to ensure lecturers are present for their classes. If students come and lecturers don't show up, it doesn't make sense, and vice versa," Prof. Ogbodo explained.

The Rector emphasized that regular class attendance would naturally reduce the incidence of sorting. "In my experience, any student that endeavors to attend lectures for 50% of the semester will have enough material and confidence to enter the examination hall without looking for anywhere to sort," he noted.

Partnership for Peace Studies

During the visit, Prof. Ogbodo expressed readiness to partner with IPCDS in advancing peace initiatives in Enugu State and beyond. He advocated for modern approaches to conflict resolution in light of contemporary technological advancements, noting that unresolved conflicts have caused serious havoc across Nigeria and globally.

Dr. Nwoye, accompanied by the Institute's Academic Coordinator, Dr. Chiedozie Nwafor, emphasized that peace remains paramount for human existence and development. He explained that the visit was part of the learning process for PhD students and aligned with the Institute's mission to explore potentials and challenges for state and national development.