President Bola Tinubu has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State. This decision also includes the removal of Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, the newly appointed Vice Chancellor, and Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike, the registrar.
The council, led by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, included five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Retired General Funsho Oyeneyin. The announcement of the council’s dissolution was made public in Abuja on Wednesday through a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
The statement explained that the dissolution and removal of the officials were prompted by reports indicating that the council had illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without adhering to the proper procedures.
Following this controversial appointment, the Federal Government intervened to address tensions between the university’s Senate and the governing council. The government expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws during the selection process. Additionally, President Tinubu also approved the removal of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami from his position as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences in Otukpo, Benue State.
This decision followed Salami’s illegal actions, including the suspension of the Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures. In response to the Federal Ministry of Education’s call for the unlawful suspension to be revoked, Engr. Salami refused to comply and instead resorted to abusive and threatening behavior towards the Ministry’s Directors, including the Permanent Secretary.
The Federal Government reiterated that the primary responsibility of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of university activities in accordance with the act that established each university.
President Tinubu cautioned the councils against creating distractions within their institutions, emphasizing that his government is focused on improving education standards in the country. In another development, President Tinubu has approved an immediate swap of the Pro-Chancellors and Chairmen of the Governing Councils for the Federal University Oye-Ekiti and Federal University Lokoja.
As part of this reshuffling, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, currently serving as the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University Lokoja, will take over the role at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti. Engineer Kayode Ojo, who previously held a similar position at Oye-Ekiti, will assume the role in Lokoja.
“This strategic change is part of President Tinubu’s initiative to foster diversity and national cohesion in the management of the country’s universities,” the statement from Onanuga explained.
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