President of the University of Jigjiga, Abdulaziz Ibrahim who sparked a storm of controversy by firing…
President of the University of Jigjiga, Abdulaziz Ibrahim who sparked a storm of controversy by firing more than thirty staff a year ago has himself been let go.
State Minister of the Ethiopian Ministry of Education in a letter dated September 26 announced that Abdulaziz was terminated from the university of the Somali regional state without cause effective immediately. The termination letter did not even mention the dismissed president by name, simply saying “the person who was president was discharged and until a permanent replacement is appointed, the University’s vice president, Elias Omar would serve as acting president, as per the rules.”
Abdulaziz was confirmed as the university’s president in 2016, by the former president of the Somali Region Abdi Iley, who is currently behind the bars. Like the man who appointed him, Abdulaziz faced several controversies during his time as president, especially in connection with mass dismissals and expulsions. Six months upon assuming his presidency, Abdulaziz expelled more than thirty staff, including administrators and deans, blaming them for mismanagement and lacking capacity.
Rajo, a Somali web portal in the past also accused of the president paying 100 thousand birr for the army affiliated Ethiopian News Network (ENN) to represent him in favourable light.
Jigjiga University was established in March 2007, starting its service with 712 students, 66 and 99 administrative in three faculties in 2007. It has grown to holding capacity of 21,554 students studying in 57 various academic programs and 627 post-graduate students pursuing in six academic programs in 2017, according to the information from the university.
Source: Ethiopia Observer
