The Godfrey Okoye University (GOUNI), Enugu has announced an increase in the minimum qualification of its Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) lecturers, effective from the 2025-2026 academic session.

The university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Christian Anieke, made the announcement on Friday during a “spiritual retreat” organized for senior academic and administrative staff. He urged those with lower educational qualifications to improve their qualifications or prepare to leave their positions.

“This directive is in line with the guidelines of the National Universities Commission,” Anieke said. He added that graduate assistants would not be allowed to teach on their own unless the required qualified lecturers were available.

Anieke also highlighted the importance of mentoring, warning officials against abusing the mentoring program. He said the university management would not tolerate faculty absenteeism.

In her remarks, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academics, Professor MarySylvia Nwachukwu, expressed concern over low class attendance by teachers during the first week of academic resumption. She announced that the academic monitoring committee would intensify the supervision of courses to identify those absent from their duties and take the necessary measures.

Earlier, retired guest speaker Rev. Fr. Liberatus Isife, reminded participants that the success of any educational institution depends on the knowledge imparted to students. He stressed the need for participants to reflect on the past and strive to bring about positive change.

Isife identified the inability to develop themselves and update their course notes as significant barriers to productivity, saying these challenges could be addressed through greater engagement in their roles.

The spiritual retreat was attended by principal officers, professors, department heads and directors of the university and its affiliated institutions.