President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly dissolved the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, amid controversies surrounding the appointment of Professor Bernard Odoh as the institution’s Vice-Chancellor.
Professor Odoh, announced as the seventh substantive Vice-Chancellor on October 29, 2024, has faced allegations of irregularities in his academic credentials and the selection process. His official academic profile on UNIZIK website claimed he served as a visiting professor at the Federal University Gusau (FUGUS), Zamfara State, from July 2015 to October 2017. However, FUGUS and its Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapter denied this claim in formal responses.
Concerns about the appointment process had been raised earlier by UNIZIK’s ASUU chapter and the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN). The groups alleged procedural violations by the Governing Council, including the announcement of the vacancy and recruitment processes.
On November 1, 2024, the Federal Ministry of Education declared the appointment invalid. In a memo, the ministry criticized the Governing Council, led by Chairman Greg Mbadiwe, for proceeding without consulting ministry representatives, internal council members, and other key stakeholders.
The university’s Registrar and Secretary to Council, R.I. Nwokike, defended the council’s actions, citing a court ruling granting it authority to appoint the Vice-Chancellor.
ASUU’s national leadership intensified opposition on November 18, 2024, condemning Odoh’s appointment and that of Rosemary Nwokike as Registrar. ASUU National President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, described the appointments as a breach of university regulations, highlighting the lack of proper advertisement, search processes, and adherence to selection criteria.
In response to the escalating controversy, President Tinubu has reportedly authorized the dissolution of the university’s Governing Council. Sources indicate that Education Minister Tunji Alausa has received presidential approval to make the announcement, which is expected to be made public shortly.
