By Richard Obiorah
Those who knew the true situation of things at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, could attest to the fact that the atmosphere of the institution has changed from the 2024 toxic activities that almost rendered the university comatose. The actualization of serenity at the university presently is a commendable feat, that needs to be sustained for the interest of the institution’s corporate image and the better welfare of the staff and the students, that have suffered the collateral damage of bad media publicity for the greater parts of the year 2024.
All keen observers must have understood that there were periods of intense turmoil and heated crises at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) from the middle of 2024 owing to complicated Vice-chancellorship succession intrigues and other issues at the institution. However, the crises was quelled by decisive federal government action, invoking what could be called a ‘doctrine of necessity.’ The Federal Government’s intervention follows several months of chaotic vice-chancellorship transitions that have plagued other universities across Nigeria.
Thus, the year 2024 saw numerous federal universities embroiled in heated administrative crises mainly stemming from the reconstitution of governing councils in some federal universities across the Northern and Southern Nigeria. While institutions like Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja) and the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), for instance, experienced their share of internal power tussles, the UNIZIK’s situation snowballed into a terrible and intimidating stage that caught the attention of the presidency.
The Amb. Greg Mbadiwe-led governing council constituted to calm the situation at UNIZIK reportedly ignited more crises at the institution. So, UNIZIK became a focal point of unprecedented administrative controversy that shook both academic and non-academic activities of the university.
The Mbadiwe-led governing council exhibited high-handedness as evident in the use of military personnel during the council activities. That could be gleaned from the council’s removal of the then Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu, despite the Federal Ministry of Education’s directives and the subsequent rapid appointments of Prof. Carol Arinze-Umobi and Mrs. Ifeoma Nwokike as Acting Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, respectively. The processes of the appointments drew sharp public criticisms.
The situation in UNIZIK escalated dramatically with the council’s unilateral appointment of Dr. Bernard Odoh as substantive Vice-Chancellor, a move that disregarded evidence of his lack of professorial status and bypassed established university procedures. This sparked fierce opposition from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) UNIZIK chapter, led by Prof. Kingsley Ubaorji.
The university descended into a state of heightened tension, with students and staff living in fear. Dr. Odoh’s subsequent decisions further polarized the institution, threatening to damage UNIZIK’s reputation and that of Federal University Gusau (FUGUS), where he claimed to have gotten his controversial professorial promotion, but the institution’s management openly and publicly denied it.
Faced with a rapidly deteriorating situation, President Bola Tinubu intervened decisively. He removed Dr. Odoh with the Mbadiwe-led council, and appointed Barr. Olugbenga Kukoyi and Prof. Ikechebelu as Pro-Chancellor and Acting Vice-Chancellor, respectively. This action, likened to the ‘doctrine of necessity’ adopted by the Nigerian Senate in the past at a critical time of national crisis, was seen as a crucial step to prevent UNIZIK from descending into a full blown anarchy.
Barr. Kukoyi, a gentle and vibrant lawyer, is coming into UNIZIK with requisite experience in university governing council leadership from the University of Nigeria, where he was a member of the council before his recent appointment as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of UNIZIK Governing
Council. He has shown that he understands the challenges of UNIZIK as revealed in his maiden address to the senate of the university on February 26, 2025, where he appealed to the senate “Let us once decide to come together and change the narrative. Let us bid farewell to the days when the university was in the news for wrong reasons. And us let embrace the present and future with Renewed Hope for academic excellence, research breakthroughs, and other ennobling attainments worthy of a university of this stature and standing.”
Barr Kukoyi’s first visit to the Awka and the Nnewi Campuses of the university was marked with humane, and civility, unlike the Greg Mbadiwe’s kind of visit that usually scares staff and students with the military team and highhanded tactics. The nature of the current pro-chancellor and the attitude he has shown raise the confidence that UNIZIK is moving forward in a positive direction. His outlined approaches for people to reach him and his team show a council leadership with a high sense of cordiality and responsibility.
For Prof. Ikechebelu, his appointment was arguably based on his probity, integrity as well as unmatched administrative experiences as former Dean Faculty of Medicine, Director of Academic Planning, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), among others; which have given him the knowledge of critical areas and issues of the university at this most delicate situation in the institution.
So, these appointments were solely intended to stabilize the troubled university and entrench sanity. Thus, the federal government’s decision to exempt UNIZIK from institutions whose Acting Vice-Chancellors won’t contest for the substantive position was predicated on the university’s unique circumstances and the need for continuity to ensure its better stability. This ultimately supercedes whatsoever other interests in the university at its present moment. A lot of things have awfully gone awry in the university due to the toxic politicking for who would be at the helm of the affairs before the federal government applied the wisdom that controlled the hitherto dicey situation, and ended in putting the university in a commendable working condition now.
It should be noted that despite the current relative calm at UNIZIK, the university continues to grapple with the consequences of the 2024 complex crisis. There are alleged lingering litigations that could destabilize or put the university to retrogression again. However, with Prof. Ikechebelu’s strong demonstration of leadership through his BLESSeD Mantra that resonates with the university community, the institution enjoys stable power supply now, productive academic and administrative activities as well as many ongoing infrastructural projects like provision of computer sets; erecting the university perimeter fence, vandalised during the 2024 chaotic crises. The staff, students, and the alumni of UNIZIK can now heave a sigh of relief as the federal government’s timely intervention has restored their confidence in the university.
Above all, with the manner in which Barr Kukoyi has conducted the activities of the UNIZIK Governing Council so far, there’s hope that the team is very conscious of the UNIZIK’s peculiar terrain and is ready to meticulously deliver on the delicate assignment which the Federal Government gave to them. In a similar vein, the Prof. Ikechebelu-led university administration’s tactful orchestration and judicious organising of the recent 19th convocation of the university where President Bola Tinubu commissioned some signature projects confirmed his ability and competence in leading the university to the expected direction. The glamour of the convocation and the massive attendance of the staff, the alumni, friends of the university, the host community, and every member of the university community is a testament of Prof. Ikechebelu-led administration’s managerial acumen to deliver the institution from its 2024 administrative impasse.
The federal government’s intervention has been widely praised for averting a potential disaster that would create further tension and put the prestigious Nnamdi Azikiwe University in a bad light again in Nigeria and the world, at large. Stakeholders are now urged to exercise caution and support the efforts to ensure that the current peace, unity, and progress at UNIZIK would continue without any other hindrance. The application of the ‘doctrine of necessity’ has placed the university on a path to full recovery, and all hands must be on deck for the unspoken good intentions of His Excellency President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Education to be fully realised in UNIZIK.
Richard Obiorah, is a public affairs analyst and researcher based in Awka.
