In a memorable ceremony this week, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) bestowed its prestigious COLMAS Ambassador Plenipotentiary Award on Sam Onuigbo. This honour recognised his sterling contributions towards the restoration and revitalisation of critical academic programmes at the university. The award letter, signed on December 2, 2025, by the Dean of the College of Management Sciences (COLMAS), acknowledged Onuigbo’s “extraordinary partnership” and “strategic interventions” in reinstating delisted courses and repositioning the College for fresh growth.
Onuigbo, who currently serves on the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) representing the South-East, is also a former member of the National Assembly known for sponsoring the landmark Climate Change Act, 2021.
In the re-instatement process, Onuigbo played a leading role in securing the restoration of five major academic programmes, previously delisted, through the national regulatory framework. He also ensured that COLMAS was relisted on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) portal, while securing bilateral approvals from the Federal Ministries of Education and Agriculture and Food Security.
Additionally, he helped mobilise students into the newly restored courses even after the official JAMB admission window had closed, a move that significantly enhanced student intake and breathed new life into the College.
Table of Contents
Surge in admissions marks a new chapter for COLMAS in MOUAU
The impact of these reforms was immediate and significant. In the most recent admissions cycle, COLMAS recorded one of its strongest performances in years, offering admission to 1,398 students. That number represents 25.36 per cent of MOUAU’s total admissions for the year.
The College’s standing leapt to second place, coming just 23 students behind the Faculty of Engineering. Impressively, more than 1,200 of those admitted, roughly 90 per cent, completed their matriculation. Departments such as Business Administration, Accounting, and Economics saw oversubscription, underlining the pent-up demand among students for courses they had lacked access to for several years.
The reinstated programmes, Accounting, Banking and Finance, Business Administration, Economics, and Marketing, had been previously delisted, which had disrupted academic pathways for many prospective students.
An earlier approval in March 2025 by the National Universities Commission (NUC) granted full accreditation for these programmes at COLMAS, effective from the 2024/2025 academic session.
University authorities also emphasised that the College now boasts competent academic staff and improved facilities — underlining the readiness to provide quality education in these revived courses.
Onuigbo highlights the vital role of MSMEs at the MOUAU COLMAS conference
The award presentation coincided with the opening of the 2nd International Hybrid Conference of COLMAS, themed “Innovation and Sustainability of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Emerging Economies”. Onuigbo used the platform to deliver the keynote address, where he underscored the importance of MSMEs to Nigeria’s economy.
He cited official figures to show that MSMEs account for 87.9 per cent of the labour force, 96.9 per cent of businesses, contribute 6.21 per cent of exports, and generate about 46.32 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP, emphasising that many of these businesses are run by women and youths in the informal sector.
Onuigbo argued that innovation and sustainability are crucial for MSMEs to overcome challenges such as supply-chain disruptions, access new markets, and build resilience. He also praised tax reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressing hope that the measures would further strengthen the backbone of Nigeria’s entrepreneurial sector.
In accepting the award, Onuigbo pledged to sustain his support for MOUAU and its renewed programmes. Meanwhile, university leadership — represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Nneoma Elechi — commended his consistent support and expressed confidence that the renewed academic and institutional momentum would yield fresh ideas to drive national economic growth.
Significance and what it means for the future
The restoration of management science programmes at MOUAU is more than a bureaucratic win. It marks a return of hope for hundreds — possibly thousands- of aspiring students whose academic ambitions were stalled when the courses were delisted. By ensuring those programmes are back, fully accredited, and producing fresh admissions, the university has expanded its educational mandate beyond agriculture to embrace business and management disciplines.
Stakeholders see this as a victory for equity, access and institutional relevance. As noted in earlier endorsements by traditional and community leaders, the reinstatement corrects a policy decision that had negatively impacted both students and the surrounding communities.
For MOUAU, the revived College of Management Sciences could evolve into an important hub for business education, one that blends theoretical knowledge with practical enterprise orientation, especially relevant in a country where entrepreneurship and small business drive large portions of the economy. Academics at the institution have described the outcome as a “restoration of hope” after years of academic turbulence.
For Onuigbo, the recognition adds to a growing record of public service achievements, from championing landmark national legislation to fostering access to education and promoting economic opportunities. His involvement highlights the importance of sustained advocacy, political will, and stakeholder engagement in driving lasting institutional changes.
As MOUAU moves forward with these revitalised programmes, it remains to be seen how these renewed streams will influence both university growth and broader socio-economic development. What is clear, however, is that a new chapter has begun at COLMAS — one filled with renewed opportunity, hope, and relevance for students and the nation alike.
Join Our Social Media Channels:
WhatsApp: NaijaEyes
Facebook: NaijaEyes
Twitter: NaijaEyes
Instagram: NaijaEyes
TikTok: NaijaEyes
READ THE LATEST EDUCATION NEWS
