Tinubu’s Intervention in VC Recruitment Promotes Accountability — UNN Alumni
The recent leadership restructuring at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has raised hopes for restoring accountability and order in the administration of tertiary institutions, particularly in the selection process for Vice Chancellors.
Professor Barnabas Iliya, an alumnus of the university, made this assertion while speaking to journalists in Abuja on Friday. He stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated to skeptics that his administration is genuinely committed to its renewed hope agenda.
He emphasized that the reorganization of leadership structures in several universities serves as a strong indication that the Federal Government is determined to transform Nigerian universities into true centers of learning.
It should be recalled that on Thursday, President Tinubu announced a leadership overhaul at several federal universities, including UNN, Yakubu Gowon University in Abuja, and the University of Agriculture in Makurdi.
In a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu dissolved the entire governing council of Yakubu Gowon University and appointed Professor Lar Patricia Manko as Acting Vice-Chancellor, replacing Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi.
Additionally, the President removed Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu from his role as Acting Vice-Chancellor of UNN and appointed Prof. Oguejiofo T. Ujam to serve in the same capacity for the next six months.
Commenting on the changes at UNN, Prof. Iliya commended President Tinubu for heeding the calls of the university’s alumni to uphold the integrity of the Vice Chancellor recruitment process. He noted that the President’s intervention provides reassurance that things will be handled in accordance with the university’s long-standing traditions of excellence.
He stated: “Nigerians will recall that barely two weeks ago we sounded a note of caution in the way things are being done regarding the appointment of Vice Chancellors. We called for caution in UNN to preserve the prevailing academic peace and social harmony in the institution.”
“We also explained that our concern arose from the need to insulate UNN from the recriminations that trailed similar exercises in Nnamdi Azikiwe University of Awka and Yakubu Gowon University, formerly University of Abuja.”
“Today, we are happy that President Tinubu showed that he is a listening Presidency by intervening to arrest the simmering sounds of approaching trouble in these notable universities. While we commend the President for this spontaneous show of leadership, we urge the new helmsmen to toe the path of excellence and probity.”
Professor Iliya further highlighted that the appointment of Prof. Ujam, a strict academic disciplinarian, as the acting VC of UNN has reassured stakeholders that significant reforms are underway to improve the recruitment process.
“As alumni of the UNN, we are happy that Prof. Ujam’s efforts to sanitise the School of General Studies have been recognised. We are therefore elated that this thorough-bred academic was appointed by President Tinubu to oversee the overall administration of the university.”
“This goes to show that indeed the President is adept at head hunting experts for essential responsibilities. We are eager to see our UNN climb high in the ranking of Universities through excellence in character and learning to ensure that it delivers on its core mandate of restoring the dignity of mankind,” Prof. Iliya stated.
