By Fidel Ozugha
On Tuesday, 29th October, 2024, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Amb. Greg Ozuomba Mbadiwe, announced Dr. Ifeanyi Bernard Odoh as the substantive Vice Chancellor of the citadel of education.
This was done amidst litigations in the nation’s law courts of competent jurisdiction by about three professional groups – Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Nnewi Branch; Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNIZIK Chapter.
This tells us that Dr. Odoh’s ‘election’ or ‘selection’ into the hallowed position didn’t receive the blessings needed for his kinetic rise. MDCAN, for instance, is posed for a fight because her qualified members were discriminated against and de-enfranchised. The matter is still in court. The environment that produced Dr Odoh as UNIZIK VC is one of toxic, disharmony and rancour.
We will recall the previous incidents that snowballed into current happenings in the institution. At the end of Prof. Charles Esimone’s tenure as the immediate past VC, he handed over the mantle of leadership of the University to Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu through a due process of election and approval by UNIZIK Senators as the Deputy Vice Chancellor, DVC (Administration).This was in line with the University Act and according to the Federal Ministry of Education stipulated guidelines
Mr Vice Chancellor, Dr .Ifeanyi Bernard Odoh of UNIZIK displays his certificate of return after the election, with some stakeholders friends
However, by act of omission or commission, no letter of appointment was issued to Prof Joseph Ikechebelu by the then Federal Minister of Education in the absence of a Governing Council of UNIZIK.
When the Governing Council was constituted, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Amb. Mbadiwe, with a wand of impunity that is fast becoming a norm in the country, sacked the seating Acting VC instead of instead of issuing him with a confirmatory letter, knowing fully well that the acting position would end then in six months time, and a full fledged VC would be elected.
So in Prof. Ikechebelu’s place, Amb. Mbadiwe imposing his power as the Pro-Chancellor, and disrupting the peace and harmony reigning in the academic community, planted one Prof. Carol Arinze-Umeobi in a funny, disgraceful, derogatory and controversial manner.
It was alleged that the letter of her appointment was unceremoniously handed over to her in the car park in front of the Administrative Block of the University. This thus prompted and propelled the Students Union Government (SUG) to stage a protest.
UNIZIK ASUU Branch Chairman, Prof. Kingsley Ubaoji, leading the protest with colleagues
On this, the right was done but in a wrong process. From that time till the announcement of Dr Odoh as the substantive Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK, a of intrigues, manipulation, discrimination, manoeuverings and such became the order in the process to elect/appoint a VC for UNIZIK.
Dr Odoh is a reader and staff of the University. He has not attained the position of a professor, and has never been a Head of Department, nor a Dean of a Faculty, not a Director, not a Provost nor a DVC.
This desperation gave credence to why some people would vie for the same post were discriminated against through a Vanguard newspaper advertorial (page 33,Thursday 12th September, 2024) selecting some people not to contest in the election. The contents of the unpopular Vanguard publication provoked condemnations, abuses, outcries, and other negative remarks.
Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, one of the group of professionals whose members were discriminated against, went to court seeking redress to claim her right. Association of Senior Staff of Universities, ASSU, as protested to express her grievances. There has been unfriendly environment in the school. very toxic and very inflammable.
Education hard o!
In his acceptance speech, Dr Odoh said he got his first and second degrees and his Ph.D from the University and proudly claimed that he is first alumnus of UNIZIK to attain that lofty height.
In the same vein, former Director of UNIZIK Business School, Prof. Chinedu Onyeizugbe, while congratulating the controversially selected/elected VC prided in him for being ”the first alumnus (of UNIZIK) to hold this prestigious position.”
Contrary to this assertion, and as if in response to Prof Onyeizugbe’s stand point, Prof. P. I. Okafor asked, “Is being an alumnus of UNIZIK one of the conditions/qualifications? Are we extrapolating the spirit of ’emilokan’ into the University?, he further inquired.
”Are we telling the non alumni professors to go to hell? Shouldn’t we be bothered about the flouted due processes and obvious impunity in disregarding all protestations against this selection process?
Cross-section of guests during the service of songs in honour of late President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Dr Engr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, MFR, in Owerri, Imo State
”Any research project that starts with predetermined conclusions is akin to academic rascality. The result of this VC selection was known and predetermined, and all conditions enacted in the advertisement were modelled to suit a particular result. This smells like a plagiarism. “Go to court” will be the expected answer to the protestations…”
