UNIZIK sacks Vice Chancellor after two months

…Appoints new acting VC

The governing council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka has sacked Professor Joseph Ikechebelu as Vice Chancellor after just two months in office.

The council has appointed Professor Carol Umobi as the new Acting Vice Chancellor.

“I am pleased to inform you that by the provisions of Section 4 of First Schedule, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Act CAP 139, LFN 2004 as amended by the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amended) Act 2007, the Governing Council has approved your appointment as Acting Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka on the recommendation of the University Senate,” said Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe, chairman of the governing council, in a letter to Umobi.

The appointment of Umobi was made after an emergency meeting of the governing council, which was convened to remove Ikechebelu as Acting Vice Chancellor.

The meeting was tense, with a detachment of soldiers and police officers positioned in front of the Senate building.

The council’s decision was communicated to Umobi in a letter, which stated that her appointment was for a period not exceeding six months, effective Monday, July 22, 2024.

 The terms and conditions of her appointment are as approved by the Federal Government for all Federal Universities.

“On behalf of the Governing Council, I extend our warmest congratulations on your appointment. We have full confidence in your ability to lead our esteemed institution during this period and wish you great success in this role,” Mbadiwe said in the letter.

It was gathered that the Mbadiwe-led council had empowered a few professors in the university to hold the Senate meeting, and had pencilled down two professors, Carol Arinze-Umeobi and F. J. C. Odibo, with the aim of removing Ikechebelu. After their meeting, a memo released therefrom read: “RESOLUTION OF THE EMERGENCY MEETING OF SENATE HELD ON 19TH JULY, 2024 AT THE UNIVERSITY AUDITORIUM.”