By Michael Ovat, November 3, 2024
The Federal Ministry of Education has officially annulled the recent appointment of Professor Benard Odoh as Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State.
The announcement comes after Odoh was appointed by the university’s governing council, led by Amb. Greg Mbadiwe, in a decision that sparked protests from various stakeholders within the university community.
In a memo signed by R.A. Ilyasu on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, the ministry stated that the appointment process did not adhere to established protocols. The memo emphasized that the council proceeded with the appointment without reconciling with key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Education and internal council members.
The letter read, “It has come to the attention of the Ministry that your Council had gone ahead to appoint a Vice Chancellor for the University without the Representative of the Ministry, the internal council members, and other stakeholders… This is a gross disregard to constituted authority and is not in line with extant provisions.”
Additionally, the memo also annulled a recent appointment of a registrar for the institution, instructing the council to halt all other appointments until further notice.
While the letter is currently circulating on social media, its authenticity has not been officially confirmed. However, a senior staff member at UNIZIK has reportedly verified its legitimacy with the Ministry.
This development raises questions about the governance and decision-making processes at UNIZIK, highlighting the importance of stakeholder engagement in university appointments.
