Former employees of Wigwe University locked in dispute with institution over allegations of unfair dismissal and mistreatment

Following the death of Herbert Wigwe, the university he founded, Wigwe University, has faced allegations of widespread staff dismissals, intimidation, and administrative heavy-handedness, prompting concerns about how his vision is being managed in his absence.

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On August 1, 2025, Dr Nonyelum Okechukwu, the university librarian, received a letter stating that her appointment would be terminated, effective October 30, 2025, a decision she claimed was made without any prior disciplinary action or opportunity to respond to allegations against her.

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Okechukwu, who had been with the university since November 2023, said she was not given any reason for her termination and was simply told that her services were no longer required, leaving her uncertain about her professional future.

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The late Herbert Wigwe, a renowned banker and business leader, had envisioned Wigwe University as a world-class institution that would foster fearless leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs, but his death in a helicopter crash on February 9, 2024, has raised questions about the university's management and direction.

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Okechukwu's experience is part of a larger pattern described by former employees, who allege mass staff departures, administrative high-handedness, and unfair labor practices, with some attributing these developments to the university administration under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Professor Marwan Al-Akaidi.

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The university, however, disputes these allegations, with documents indicating that about 30 academic and non-academic employees had their appointments terminated or resigned during the period in question, a significant number of whom claimed they were dismissed without being accused of misconduct or given the opportunity to appear before a disciplinary panel.

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Amarachi Ogbennia, a former college secretary, alleged that she was dismissed without reason after being temporarily reassigned to the Vice-Chancellor's office, where she experienced a work environment marked by fear and intimidation.

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Ogbennia claimed that her appointment was terminated after she fell ill and requested to leave work early, and that she was not given any explanation for her dismissal, which she described as an example of the Vice-Chancellor's tendency to dismiss staff at will.

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A lecturer from Zimbabwe, who wished to remain anonymous, alleged that he was dismissed without explanation after the university failed to honor an agreement to sponsor his annual return trip to visit his family, and that he had to source his own funds to return home after his employment ended.

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The lecturer claimed that the atmosphere at the university changed after Herbert Wigwe's death, with employees working in an environment of fear and intimidation, and that the Vice-Chancellor's temper and anger were major contributing factors to this situation.

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A former deputy registrar, who resigned in August 2025, alleged that he was frustrated by the erosion of his dignity and professional autonomy, and that he was instructed to prepare a termination letter for the Zimbabwean lecturer after the university failed to provide the promised annual travel ticket.

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Professor Arinola Ajayi, a lecturer in the College of Engineering, said he resigned because he was no longer comfortable working at the institution, which he felt had changed for the worse after Herbert Wigwe's death.

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An administrative staff member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that fear and intimidation were pervasive among employees, and that senior staff members who were perceived as threats to the Vice-Chancellor's position risked losing their jobs.

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Nigeria's Labour Act, Cap. L1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, governs employment relationships in the country, providing a framework for employment contracts and the termination of employment, including notice requirements and protections for employees.

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Civil society organizations, including the International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights, have called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the reported dismissals, citing concerns about the university's compliance with Nigeria's labor laws.

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Omenazu Jackson, the Chancellor of the International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights, said that the university's status as a private institution did not exempt it from complying with labor laws, and that an inquiry was necessary to establish the circumstances surrounding the dismissals.

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Enefa Georgewill, the Chairman of the Rivers State Civil Society Organisations, said that all employers, including private universities, were bound by labor laws and must comply with them, and that allegations of dismissals without due process should be investigated.

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Debo Adeniran, the President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, said that every employee's conditions of service should govern the employment relationship, and that employees who believed their rights had been violated could seek legal redress through the courts.

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Dr Monday Ubani, a former Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association, said that a university could not be run like a secondary school, and that it was essential to establish whether the decisions to terminate the employees' appointments were taken by the university's Governing Council or whether they were made unilaterally by the Vice-Chancellor.