By TONY OKAFOR, AWKA
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the appointment of Barrister Olugbenga Kukoyi as the new Pro-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.
This appointment was made public through a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, dated February 3, 2025.
Kukoyi, a current Council Member at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, replaces Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe, who was removed by the President following a crisis at the university over the controversial appointment of Dr. Bernard Odoh, accused of forging his professorship.
A hint in the announcement suggests that the current acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu, may be barred from contesting the substantive seat of the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
As stated in the announcement: “To succeed Maikudi, President Tinubu appointed Professor Lar Patricia Manko as Acting Vice Chancellor at the Yakubu Gowon University for a six-month term. She will not be eligible to apply for the substantive Vice Chancellor position when it becomes available.”
Ikechebelu has been embattled in his quest to become the Vice Chancellor after Prof. Charles Esimone handed over to him on June 4, 2024.
Ikechebelu acted for a few months before he was removed from office by the Greg Mbadiwe-led Governing Council, following agitations by some members of the university community that he should not contest for the substantive seat of the VC, as his acting capacity would give him an edge over other contestants.
The Mbadiwe-led Governing Council replaced Ikechebelu with Prof. Carol Arinze-Umobi.
Arinze-Umobi acted for a few months before Bennad Odoh was appointed the substantive VC in controversial circumstances that led to the sacking of both the Mbadiwe-led Governing Council and Odoh.
In another development, Senator Joy Emordi has been appointed Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, having previously served in the same capacity at Alvan Ikoku University of Education.
These appointments are part of a broader overhaul of leadership at federal universities, including the University of Abuja, now known as Yakubu Gowon University.
President Tinubu emphasized that these changes reflect his administration’s commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s higher education system through dynamic leadership and accountability.
The restructuring aims to strengthen governance and academic excellence within Nigeria’s tertiary education sector. All appointments and reassignment decisions are effective immediately.
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