Acting vice-chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Prof Joseph Ikechebelu has thanked President Bola Tinubu for his intervention in the crisis which rocked the varsity for several months.
Last Wednesday, Tinubu removed Prof Bernard Odoh as UNIZIK vice-chancellor and dismissed the registrar Rosemary Nwokike. The president also dissolved the university’s governing council, stating that the appointments were illegal.
Ikechebelu was reinstated as acting vice-chancellor.
Addressing the press on Monday at the university’s exco chamber, Ikechebelu said: “Today, November 25th, 2025, gentlemen of the press, I am glad to grant this press conference, the first after my reinstatement and resumption of office as the acting Vice-Chancellor of this University, named after Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, GCFR, the doyen of Nigeria’s independence struggle; Zik of Africa, who led the vanguard for the emancipation of the black man; who was an implacable pan-Africanist.
“We pride ourselves as the University of All Times; at all times and in all circumstances, we strive to stay ahead of others in academic advancements and in the use of same to impact positively on society.
“It is against the foregoing that the untoward actions taken by the now dissolved Governing Council of the University in the process of the appointing a Vice-Chancellor and a Registrar for the University must be seen as shocking and most regrettable; a brazen disregard of the University Act and known processes for such appointments in the Nigerian University system.
“Had this disingenuous action succeeded, it would have set a dangerous precedent in the Nigerian University system and this University would have been bastardised by further acts of impunity.
“We thank the President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. His Excellency’s intervention has shown that he has a listening ear, is a sticker for due diligence, and is committed to his Renewed Hope Agenda, which has indeed renewed our hope in Nnamdi Azikiwe University that there will be respect for the University Act and due process.
“We salute the Minister of Education Dr. Olatunji Alausa. Before his redeployment to the Ministry of Education, the imbroglio in Nnamdi Azikiwe University regarding the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar had been festering, for some time, apparently unattended to. On assumption of office, he took prompt positive action to address the challenge.
“We must not forget the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, who was also instrumental in resolving the impasse.
“The Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) Mr Chris Jibreel Maiyaki, the Body that directly supervises Nigerian Universities also played his expected role. Nnamdi Azikiwe University cannot thank them well enough for rescuing us from this debacle.
“We appreciate the efforts of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nnamdi Azikiwe University Chapter and its National Executive Committee, as well as the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) for the dogged fight that succeeded in arresting this ugly episode.
“My immediate task as acting Vice-Chancellor is to douse the tension arising from this opprobrious malfeasance and return the University to normalcy, with a mind-frame that the entire saga, has ended with no victor, no vanquished. I, therefore, solicit the cooperation of all concerned to enthrone in the University an ambient environment that would conduce to a hitch-free, rancour-free appointment of a Vice-Chancellor and a Registrar by the incoming Governing Council.
“While I act as Vice-Chancellor, I shall continue with the vision which I had adopted during my earlier stint as Acting Vice-Chancellor, to: Beautify UNIZIK; Light up UNIZIK; Excellent UNIZIK; Digitalize UNIZIK; and Secure UNIZIK otherwise known as BLESSED.”
