By Ovat Abeng
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, has stage a peaceful protest to stopped the selection of the new Vice Chancellor of the Institution.
It was gathered that the protest was as a result of the ongoing crisis currently rocking the University over who emergencies the new Vice Chancellor of the Varsity.
It was also gathered that while the protest was ongoing, the selection was equally taking place by the University’s Governing Council led by it Chairman, Amb. Greg Mbadiwe at the Council Chambers of the University, on Tuesday.
Speaking to Journalists shortly after the protst , the ASUU-UNIZK branch Chairman, Prof Kinsley Oborji, call on the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene to save the University, named after one of the founding fathers of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe from total collapse.
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Prof Oborji accused the Chairman of the University’s Governing Council, Amb. Mbadiwe, of imposing a VC who is not a Unizik product.
The Chairman appeal for a due process to be followed to avoid break down of law and order in the University.
The protest was accompanied with placards with various inscriptions such as; Amb. Greg Mbadiwe respect our University, ASUU-NAU wants due process to be follow, ASUU-NAU says no to imposition of VC, Tinubu, call Greg to order, Vice Chancellors are not appointed in a hotel, ASUU-NAU says no to VC selection, among others.
Meanwhile, the Governing Council of the University led by Amb. Mbadiwe has appointed Professor Benard Ifeanyi Odoh as the 7th substantive Vice Chancellor of the Varsity.
Odoh, a Professsor of Geophysics is of the Department of Appplied Geophysics, Faculty of Physical Sciences of the University.
Announcing the appointment after a rigorous selection process and interview of the 15 applicants for the position, the Pro-Chancellor disclosed that Odoh scored the 1st position from the pool of the applicants for the plum job of the University Chief Executive based on his evidence-based significant experience in University Teaching, Research and Administration.
Born on 5th August 1975, Odoh hails from Ezza North LGA, Ebonyi State. As an Alumnus of Nnamdi Azikiwe University where he graduated from the Department of Geological Sciences in 1999, he was appointed Lecturer 1 in the same department in 2009 after obtaining his Ph.D in 2008.
He was a member of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) Senate from 2010 to 2014. and also served as Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor (Academic Matters I)/Coordinator UTME Exercise, 10th June 2014 to Oct. 2014
He was assessed and appointed as a Professor at Federal University Gusau, 2015.
Odoh an Emeritus Secretary to the State Government ( SSG) of Ebonyi State has over 120 research publications published in reputable International Journals, E- Books and Monographs to his credit.
He returned to Nnamdi Azikiwe University in 2019 after resigning from his position as Secretary to the Ebonyi State Government.
He was a Board Member Nnamdi Azikiwe University Confucius Institute and also Member of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Admission and Examination Monitoring Committee.
He had also served as Director of Center for Water Resources Capacity Building Network for the Southeast Zone, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, 16th August 2010 – Oct 2014 as well as Coordinator of UNIZIK Seismic Observatory Station, June 29th, 2010- Oct 2014
He was a Delegate in Higher Education Administration seminar for Anglophone African Countries in three major provinces of China 19th October and 7th November, 2013 sponsored by Chinese Ministry of Education
Also Member, NWRI-UNESCO stakeholders committee for the development of M.Sc. Curriculum in Integrated Water Resources Management for Nigerian Universities.
He is a Member of various professional bodies like the Society of Exploration Geophysics, Oklahoma USA , American Association of Petroleum Geologist , European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers, Nigeria Association of Petroleum Explorationist and the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society .
He is a Lead Research Consultant to Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), 2024.
It would be recalled that the newly appointed Vice Chancellor mentored and led NAU Team to 1st position among 26 African universities and represented the African Region in American Association of Petroleum Geologists Imperial Barrel Award (AAPG IBA) Finals in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, 17 and 19th May, 2013 where they took the 5th position on the global arena.
He was also Member of the voluntary visitors-Leadership Program for Newly- Appointed Nigerian Vice-Chancellors in the United States of America; organized by the US Department of State in Collaboration with National Universities Commission (NUC), 13-23rd October, 2010.
