The acting Vice Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Oguejiofo T. Ujam, has urged members of the university’s Senate to gear up for ethical reorientation, creative and innovative learning culture in the institution.
He said for the university to witness “three consecutive acting Vice Chancellors within a year and I feel that it does not require rocket science to note that the institution has greatly retreated from its leading position as Nigeria’s premier university.”
Ujam, who made the remarks while presenting his first address to the University’s Senate, said: “From recent happenings in a neighbouring tertiary institution, it is obvious that declining morals is not limited to the University of Nigeria alone.
“But, the challenging situation poses for us a dire urgency to demonstrate the original leadership, which the founding fathers of the institution purposed UNN to serve. This charge therefore comes as a collective demand on our individual contributions and responsibility to reposition the institution on a steady course to ethical and innovative learning.”
He informed the Senate members that his appointment, which is for a six-month period is expected to prepare the ground for the emergence of a substantive Vice Chancellor for the University.
He expressed the hope that the Senate will work with him to “deliver on this expansive but limited mandate,” noting that “if we bury the negative passions of individualism, which undergirds the politics of who gets what, we will shun cleavages that undermine collective action.”
The acting VC informed the Senate that he plans to set up a Scholarship Office to encourage excellence in special and adaptive studies that Afrocentric and forward looking.
He stated: “As part of the grand vision vision to place UNN as a global player in the forward-looking tertiary education system, I plan to establish a University of Nigeria Scholarship Office.
“This office will oversee the award of scholarship to deserving undergraduates and postgraduate from West Africa, Africa, Europe Asia and the Pacific for African Studies and perspectives in the emerging new technologies and sustainability programmes.
“The scholarship will also be available for Nigerians to reflect its multi-ethnic background. UNN must be on top and be seen to provide leadership in new thinking and development.
“UNN should not be found wanting in the current technological contest defined by the rivalry between Open Artificial Intelligence and DeepSeek. Good a thing, Dr. Peter Mbah, who is the governor of Enugu State that hosts UNN has been advocating the transition to experiential learning.
“We hope to return UNN to its legendary status as a laboratory for human inquiry and inventions. Research and innovation should have a pride of place in what we plan to do within the next six months.
Contemporaneously, staff welfare, reward and recognition of talent will also be looked into with a view to situating an appropriate incentive scheme to raise productivity.”
Ujam commended the Governing Council of the University, pointing out that institution is blessed to have Engineer Kayode Olubunmi Ojo as chairman of council, adding that at last the institution has a level-headed and focused Governing Council.
“Under the watch of Engineer Ojo as Chairman of Council, I am confident that the Senate will enjoy a robust leadership that caters for staff welfare, imaginative infrastructure development and innovative planning.
“My confidence is buoyed by the fact of the chairman’s antecedents and where he is coming from. His background as a professional Engineer, astute politician makes it a given that his wealth of experience, garnered from both internally and internationally, will be brought to bear on the oversight of this legendary sanctuary of learning,” the acting VC declared.
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Address by Prof. Oguejiofo T. Ujam to the Senate of University of Nigeria, on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.
Distinguished professors and esteemed members of the University Senate,
I am honored to stand before you today as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of this prestigious institution.
Penultimate week, precisely on the 7th of February, I received a letter from the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, which conveyed my appointment as the acting Vice Chancellor of our University with effect from February 10, 2025. In line with that appointment, on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, the former acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Polycarp Emeka Chigbu, at a brief ceremony in the VC’s office, handed over to me the instruments of administration. As I begin my tenure, I am deeply aware of the significant responsibility that now rests on my shoulders.
Memorably, this is about the first time that our University produced three acting Vice-Chancellors within a year and I feel that it does not require rocket science to note that the institution has greatly retreated from its leading position as Nigeria’s premier university.
It is my belief, therefore, that we have been tasked to look inwards and discover where the rain started beating us as a university. Going by the key words in the UNN motto, there is no gainsaying the fact that we have been found wanting in the twin areas of moulding character and stoking learning.
From recent happenings in a neighbouring tertiary institution, it is obvious that declining morals is not limited to the University of Nigeria alone. But the challenging situation poses for us a dire urgency to demonstrate the original leadership, which the founding fathers of the institution purposed UNN to serve.
This charge therefore comes as a collective demand on our individual contributions and responsibility to reposition the institution on a steady course to ethical and innovative learning.
My letter of appointment as acting Vice Chancellor clearly spelt out the mandate in specific terms, particularly the clause to facilitate the process for the emergence of the substantive Vice Chancellor for the University before the end of my tenure in acting capacity.
I take it that my task is to work with you as a team on a six-month timeframe to rework the ethos of UNN to reflect the collective vision of the founding fathers and chart a new path for the university’s journey to a glorious future as a leader in learning schemes.
Let us purge the school system of tiny cleavages, sectional considerations and narrow mindedness that have contributed in eroding the enabling condition for research, comparative studies and adaptive application of new knowledge.
On this score, I humbly declare that I intend to depend on the wise counsel of this noble Senate in delivering on this expansive but limited mandate. I am convinced whoever stands on the shoulders of giants must stand out.
Permit me to echo an Arab proverb, which states that an army of sheep led by a lion will defeat an army of lions led by a sheep. Right from its founding, the UNN Senate has been enjoying this stalwart position as the Lion that leads the sheep of obedient academics, staff and students of the university.
More importantly, I am inspired by the words of the Swiss Psychiatrist cum psychoanalyst, Carl Jung, who declared that “most people are not looking for the truth, (rather) they are looking for reassurance.” I reference Jung, because of the need to integrate different parts of the UNN’s personality for its special growth.
Individually and collectively, we all share a set of memories and ideas shaped by historical experiences. It is these individual contributions that I believe will help us weave a tapestry of ethos, ground rules, expectations and positive demands that would serve as a template for the emergence of a substantive Vice Chancellor that reflects that broad image of UNN of our dreams.
I believe that if we bury the negative passions of individualism, which undergirds the politics of who gets what, we will shun cleavages that undermine collective action. The Roman Emperor and stoic Philosopher, Marcus Aurelius, while championing wisdom and morality in governance, asserted that “those who seek control over others are often the ones who cannot control themselves.”
I am convinced that if we seek for the collective good of the university, we would have brought about the unity of purpose that ensures that UNN regains its primeval place in the fight for the restoration of human dignity.
Let us find ourselves by losing ourselves in the service of others, as Mahatma Gandhi stated. Towards this end, in the coming days I will be meeting with Heads of Departments, Deans, etc to collate ideas and peculiar needs so that we can once more weld the University into an exemplary citadel of learning.
UNN should not be found wanting in the current technological contest defined by the rivalry between Open Artificial Intelligence and DeepSeek. Good a thing, Dr. Peter Mbah, who is the governor of Enugu State that hosts UNN has been advocating the transition to experiential learning.
We hope to return UNN to its legendary status as a laboratory for human inquiry and inventions. Research and innovation should have a pride of place in what we plan to do within the next six months. Contemporaneously, staff welfare, reward and recognition of talent will also be looked into with a view to situating an appropriate incentive scheme to raise productivity.
As part of the grand vision vision to place UNN as a global player in the forward-looking tertiary education system, I plan to establish a University of Nigeria Scholarship Office.
This office will oversee the award of scholarship to deserving undergraduates and postgraduate from West Africa, Africa, Europe Asia and the Pacific for African Studies and perspectives in the emerging new technologies and sustainability programmes. The scholarship will also be available for Nigerians to reflect its multi-ethnic background. UNN must be on top and be seen to provide leadership in new thinking and development.
Let me assure us that I will approach this task with fairness, firmness, and transparency. I will work tirelessly to ensure that the interests of our university community are preserved, protected and promoted. I am committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity, respect, and open communication. I believe that our diversity is our strength, and I will work to ensure that every voice is heard and valued.
As I conclude, permit me to register my immense gratitude to the members of the University of Nigeria Senate for your unalloyed support. I make bold to say that with your support, I am proud to serve this institution.
But, this speech will not be complete without equally assuring this wonderful Senate that in the person of Engineer Kayode Olubunmi Ojo, UNN is blessed with a level-headed and focused Governing Council.
Under the watch of Engineer Ojo as Chairman of Council, I am confident that the Senate will enjoy a robust leadership that caters for staff welfare, imaginative infrastructure development and innovative planning.
My confidence is buoyed by the fact of the chairman’s antecedents and where he is coming from. His background as a professional Engineer, astute politician makes it a given that his wealth of experience, garnered from both internally and internationally, will be brought to bear on the oversight of this legendary sanctuary of learning.
I look forward to working with each and every one of us here.
Thank you.
Prof. Oguejiofo T. Ujam
Acting Vice Chancellor
