Prof. Joseph Ifeanyịchukwu Ikechebelu has assumed duty as the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. This is sequel to the approval of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
Addressing some principal officers and other staff of the University who came in euphoric and ecstatic mood to welcome him, Prof. Ikechebelu said “a lot has happened in University.
“Now is the time to get to work. Nobody should see anyone as an enemy. Our ultimate goal is to make this citadel a place conducive for teaching, research and community service”.
Recall that Professor Joseph Ikechebelu was reinstated as the Acting Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
Ikechebelu had held the position on acting capacities before the university got enmeshed in its current crisis following the election of Prof Bernard Odoh as the VC.
Ikechebelu’s appointment followed the sack of Prof Odoh as the seventh VC of the university by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Prof Odoh, Thursday, told the federal government to refrain from stoking unnecessary tension within the university.
Odoh also warned the education ministry to avoid overriding the powers of the courts, which are currently handling multiple lawsuits on the matter.
Odoh, through his Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity, Charles Otu, described the letter announcing his dismissal and the dissolution of the university’s governing council as “mischievous”, “strange,” and a “grievous attempt to set the institution on fire”.
According to him, the composition of the university’s governing council and his appointment as the seventh substantive VC followed all the die processes.
The letter was contemptuous, given that the matter is subjudice, he said, adding that the Ministry of Education is a party in Suit No: NICN/ABJ/383/2024 and Suit No: NICN/ABJ/372/2024, where the legality of his appointment is being contested in the National Industrial Court.
According to him, “The Ministry of Education, as a defendant in these suits, has not filed a counterclaim. This is unprecedented.
“Has there been any crisis, or even a breakdown of law and order in the institution since the inauguration of the seventh substantive Vice-Chancellor?
