The management of Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakiliki, has publicly addressed the death of Miss Favour Ugwuka, a final year student in the Department of English Language and Literature, who allegedly committed suicide on Wednesday, May 23, 2024.
During a press briefing on Monday, Vice Chancellor Professor Chigozie Ogbu refuted claims that a lecturer’s actions were responsible for Ugwuka’s academic struggles. He outlined the university’s procedures for students who believe their exams were unfairly graded, noting that students can request re-marking through the Head of Department (HOD) or Dean, with final decisions made by the Vice Chancellor’s office and sometimes reviewed by another university.
Professor Ogbu stated, “If the late student believed she was marked down, she could have filed a complaint for re-marking. The process is transparent and ensures fairness.” He emphasized that there was no evidence to suggest Ugwuka deserved to pass the courses she failed.
Providing a detailed account of Ugwuka’s academic performance, Professor Ogbu revealed that she had a consistent record of failing multiple courses. In her first year, she failed three out of nine courses with a cumulative GPA (CGPA) of 1.78, and in her second semester, she failed two out of eight courses, resulting in a CGPA of 1.75.
In her second year (2019/2020), Ugwuka failed two out of eight courses she attempted in the first semester, and four out of ten in the second semester, maintaining a low academic performance with a CGPA of 1.62. This pattern continued in subsequent years, including failing ENG 416 twice.
The Vice Chancellor’s remarks concluded with a call for understanding, emphasizing that Ugwuka’s academic challenges were not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern documented in her academic record.
