By Ovat Abeng
Outgoing Chukwumemeka Odomegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Greg Nwakoby, has assessed his five-year tenure with a sense of fulfillment, adding that he was happy that he was leaving the citadel of learning better than he met it.
He said that he held no grudges against anybody, pointing out that posterity would always judge everyone for the role he/she played while serving humanity.
The VC stated this during celebration to mark his five years in office/unveiling of the book titled “Greg Nwakoby, The Journey of a Legacy of Enduring Transformation 2018-2023”, held at the University’s auditorium over the weekend.
He said “I am happy that I turned COOU to projects site. Look at this gigantic buildings around the University campus. Under my leadership, the University attracted many well equipped learning centres to emerged among the best Universities in Nigeria.
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“I am highly fulfilled and happy for this honorary celebration organised by my friends, associates and the University management at large.”
The VC who also thanked everyone who contributed to the success of his administration disclosed that after leaving office, he would continue to contribute his quarter to sustain growth and development of the university.
Earlier, the chairman on the occasion, Justice Alexius Okuma, described the university Vice Chancellor as a man who came, saw and conquered Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University and commended him for his good legacies.
For the chief launcher of the book, Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, represented by the State Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Felix Odimegwu, Professor Nwakoby is a man of vision, who carries everyone along, and wished him well in his other life’s endeavors.
Also speaking, the Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Prof. Kingsley Nwozor, said under the five years leadership of Prof. Nwakoby, the number of professors in the University rose from 35 to 200.
Nwozor said the VC inherited a total of 35 professors on assumption of office, but would be leaving behind no fewer than 200 professors for the institution.
He said many of the professors who were promoted based on merit, were drawn from a backlog of stagnated staff, many of whose promotions were long overdue.
Describing Nwakoby’s five years rule as a monumental advancement for the institution, Nwozor noted that the VC would be leaving the institution far better than he met it especially in the area of infrastructure, welfare, discipline, integrity, transparency and accountability.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration Professor Mathias Ananti, his Academic counterpart, Professor Osita Chiaghanam and the member representing Ihiala in the House of Representatives, Rt Honourable Pascal Agbodike, said that the transformation and incredible progress brought by professor Nwakoby have made Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University to standout as one of the best tertiary institutions in Nigeria and prayed God to elevate him to a bigger position.
It was gathered that the one-hundred-and-six paged literature succinctly mirrors the Vice Chancellors breakthroughs beginning from his early life, to become a professor and then through the five years of his tenure in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.
Partitioned into five chapters, the book was edited by Professor Solomon Ekwenze and the Public Relations Officer of the University, Dr Harrison Madubueze.
