Lecturer victimised for 24 years by Nigerian university is dead

An Associate Professor of theatre arts, Prof Inih Ebong, unjustly sacked 24 years ago by the University of Uyo (UniUyo), Akwa Ibom State, has been reported dead in the early hours of Wednesday.

Penpushing reports that Ebong said to have on April 13, called from his sickbed and complained that he had stay too long in the hospital, that it was as if he was in prison and wanted to go home, however, died at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, around 7 a.m

The wife, Uduak, was reported to have confirmed the demise of her husband in a quavering voice said the Professor has gone at age of 73, recalling that he (Ebong) stayed awake into the late night and was talking continuously from his sickbed.

Penpushing further reports that the widow explained that while she tried to persuade him to calm down and sleep adding that she later fell asleep, only to wake up and realise that he was lifeless.

The woman whose young daughter was by Ebong bedside when made the earlier call, said she ran out to the nurses, when she discovered the shocking development adding that the nurses came in and confirmed he’s dead.

Penpushing also reports that it is recalled that the University of Uyo(UniUyo) unjustly sacked the lecturer in 2002 for persistently criticising the university’s authorities over alleged corruption and maladministration.

The university published a disclaimer on him in a national daily to scare off other potential employers, and since then, five successive vice-chancellors failed to reinstate and pay Ebong his accumulated salary and other entitlements despite a string of court victories, including last December’s Court of Appeal judgement, which finalised litigation over the illegal termination of his appointment.

Penpushing reports the lecturer being out of job for over two decades, could hardly feed himself and his family, let alone take care of his medical treatment, while he was later diagnosed with cardiac failure in October 2020.

The Doctors did not give him much chance of survival before a Nigerian billionaire and philanthropist, Femi Otedola, stepped in to fund his medical treatment following a media report, however, a private hospital in Uyo treated him.

Penpushing further reports that Ebong was showing signs of recovery until he relapsed last February, while his two feet were swollen, creating the suspicion of a kidney problem and through his private doctor’s referral, he was moved to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in March.

Meanwhile, the deceased from Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, had his secondary education at the Etinan Institute in Akwa Ibom, obtained his first degree at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and his postgraduate studies at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

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