The federal government has approved the reappointment of Prof. Joseph I. Ikechebelu as the acting Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. It is the second time he will be acting within a year.
Ikechebelu, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology, was first appointed as acting VC on June 4, 2024, following the exit of Prof. Charles Esimone, whose tenure ended on June 3, 2024. Ikechebelu barely spent two months in the position when the governing council kicked him out.
And on July 22, 2024, a female professor, Carol Arinze-Umobi was appointed as acting, amid heavy security in the university under the now sacked 10th governing council.
Since Esimone completed his five-year tenure (2019 to 2024), Vice-Chancellorship controversy has rocked the Anambra-based federal university.
Assumption of duty
Ikechebelu’s reappointment is with immediate effect, according to a statement issued by the university’s authorities, signed by the Director of Information, Public Relations, and Protocol, Njelita Louis, and sighted by Edubase Nigeria on Thursday.
There were two acting vice chancellors – Profs Ikechebelu and Carol Arinze-Umobi – before Odoh’s was chosen by the now dissolved governing council led by Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe.
The announcement came barely 12 hours after President Bola Tinubu sacked Prof. Bernard Odoh, who had assumed office on October 29, 2024, under controversial circumstances.
The president also dismissed the the registrar, and the governing council of the institution for failing to follow due process in Odoh’s emergence.
Similarly, Mr. Victor Modebelu has been appointed as the Acting Registrar following the nullification of Mrs. Rosemary Ifeoma Nwokike’s appointment.
The statement described the reappointment as a directive from the Minister of Education and the president’s approval. It read in part:
“The reinstatement of Prof. Ikechebelu is outlined in the Federal Ministry of Education correspondence, Ref: FME/HE/CU/82°/1/308, dated 20th November 2024, and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo.”
Prof. Ikechebelu has been directed to assume full administrative duties and to refer any matters requiring the input of the governing council to the Minister of Education until a new council is reconstituted by the president.
Notably, Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor during Odoh’s 22-day tenure.
Meanwhile, the official website of UNIZIK still lists Barr. (Mrs.) Rosemary I. Nwokike as registrar and Prof. Odoh as the Vice-Chancellor among the institution’s principal officers at the time of publication (Thursday, November 21, 2024)
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