Posted on Feb 12, 2020
The Governing Board of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi, Lagos, has removed embattled acting Director-General of the institute, Mr Chima Igwe.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the Director of Production, Analytical and Laboratory Management, Dr Agnes Asagbra, was appointed to take over from him.
An official notice to the workers on Tuesday, written by the Director of Human Resources and Administration, Mrs. O.A. Akinfire, revealed that the appointment took immediate effect.
“She is to oversee the activities of the institute pending the appointment of a substantive director-general and chief executive officer.
“Please accord her all necessary support towards the achievement of the mandates of the institute,” the memo added.
Asagbra had initially been recommended by the governing board to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, after the controversy surrounding the doctorate of Igwe surfaced in 2019.
But the minister rejected the recommendation and asked that the 57-year-old be appointed.
Igwe, who for 18 years claimed to have bagged a PhD from Universite d’Abomey Calavi, Benin Republic, took office as acting DG in May 2019.
According to FIIRO law, no officer can rise above the level of a principal research officer without a PhD.
It was later discovered that he had been using an attestation letter in place of a certificate for his appraisals and evaluations.