Osita Chidoka, Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership and former Minister of Aviation, has called for the creation of a ₦100 billion endowment fund to elevate Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) to the forefront of Africa’s top universities.
Delivering the keynote address as Guest Lecturer at the 3rd Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Lecture, Chidoka urged stakeholders to transform COOU into a hub for innovative solutions addressing critical issues such as erosion, insecurity, and sustainable development in Igboland and Nigeria as a whole.
“Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University should not just bear the name of a great leader but embody his legacy by becoming a centre of excellence and innovation.
“This endowment will guarantee the university’s capacity to foster groundbreaking research, provide scholarships, and sustain world-class infrastructure independent of fluctuating budgets,” Chidoka asserted.
He also urged the government to adopt the concept of “Elitism of Ability,” using the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) as a model.
Highlighting their global impact, Chidoka noted that Indians now lead major technology companies, including Microsoft, Alphabet (Google’s parent company), Adobe, and IBM, attributing this success to the strong foundation established by the IITs.
“The IITs are globally renowned for their meritocratic selection processes that cultivate world-class engineers and innovators. Nigeria must embrace this model to nurture talent, drive development, and secure a prosperous future,” he said.
Chidoka expressed disappointment in Nigeria’s higher education system, pointing out its inability to match the rigour and global integration achieved by the IITs.
“Although we have numerous universities and an abundance of bright, motivated students, our institutions lack the resources, global partnerships, and strategic focus to become feeder grounds for global companies or prestigious institutions, limiting the broader impact of education on societal transformation,” he noted.
Using Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu’s decision to join the military despite his privileged upbringing as a metaphor, Chidoka argued, “Education is not a ticket to comfort but a foundation for courage and purpose.”
He stressed the importance of education in instilling values, civic responsibility, and the drive to tackle societal challenges.
In her welcome address, the acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kate Omenugha, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to its “Three Vs” programme of Values, Viability, and Visibility, describing it as the foundation of her administration’s vision for COOU.
The memorial lecture attracted notable attendees, including Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, representing Governor Charles Soludo; former Minister Labaran Maku, who served as the Special Guest of Honour; and Prof. Greg Nwakoby, former Vice Chancellor of COOU and chairman of the occasion.
