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Tag: VC

  • Former Enugu SSG, Prof Ortuanya, emerges new UNN VC

    Former Enugu SSG, Prof Ortuanya, emerges new UNN VC

    A Professor of Law and former Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Simon Ortuanya, has emerged as the 16th Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

    Ortuanya beat 25 other candidates to clinch the keenly contested position.

    His appointment was ratified on Sunday in Enugu by the Governing Council of the University, following a transparent and merit-based selection process chaired by Mr Kayode Ojo, Chairman of the Governing Council.

    Announcing his appointment, Ojo, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of the university, said the selection process that eventually ended with Ortuanya, started since last year.

    He said the selection commenced from the previous council, adding that the council inherited the process which was for about 26 candidates.

    Ojo added that the council went through rigorous process to select the new vice chancellor, stressing that they spent days reviewing Curriculum Vitae and personal interviews with the candidates.

    “These two processes were rigorously and fairly done. Everybody’s documents were scrutinized and with the interview, we brought proper questions that mattered to the development of this university.

    “The idea is to appoint someone for growth of the university and who will take us away from the rot that we have seen all these years.

    “Our focus was to look for a manager, a professor, who is sound in education, and also somebody with extensive network outside the university that can help us to attract a lot of patronages.

    “These patronages are for the university, both from the government, alumni, and individuals that have interest in UNN.

    In his acceptance speech, Ortuanya thanked President Bola Tinubu and Gov. Peter Mbah for their commitment and doggedness in ensuring that the appointment came to pass.

    He appreciated the UNN Governing Council for all the time spent, their commitment, thoroughness and for the rigors they had to go through as well as the pains they bore.

    The new VC pledged to serve the university with all his heart, strength and within his powers and with the cooperation and collaboration of the Council to bring the UNN’s glorious days back.

    “We will redeem our name, rebuild the confidence, build new dreams and follow up with things that have taken us back.

    “Let me commend and thank all my colleagues, the professors, my brothers and sisters that went through this journey with me. I want to say that I am welcoming them all in our efforts to rebuild our alma mater.

    “I am extending my hands of friendship, fellowship and brotherhood to each and every one of them. After all, we are all one family,” the new VC said.

    In a congratulatory message, the university management said that Prof. Ortuanya would bring with him a wealth of academic and administrative experience.

    The congratulatory message was signed by the Acting Public Relations Officer of the University, Inya Agha Egwu.

    The management said that Ortuanya’s deep understanding of university governance, policy, and law, as well as his extensive leadership experience, would significantly advance the mission and vision of Nigeria’s premier university over the next five years.

    “The University Community congratulates Professor Ortuanya on his appointment and looks forward to a new era of academic excellence and transformational leadership,”.

    NAN also reports that Ortuanya, who hails from Aku in Igboetiti Local Government Area, becomes the first indigenous Vice Chancellor From Nsukka, the host town of the university after 65 years of existence in the country.

    He previously served as Associate Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, and a Professor of Law at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).

    The new Vice Chancellor is also a visiting scholar at the Loyola University, Chicago School of Law.

    He was the former Commissioner for Education under Governor Sullivan Chime and immediate past Secretary of the State Government Under Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration.

    He was also the former Director General of South East Governor’s Forum.

    NAN

  • Reps c’ttee halts UniAbuja VC’s appointment

    Reps c’ttee halts UniAbuja VC’s appointment

    The House of Representatives Committee on University Education says the appointment process of a new vice-chancellor for University of Abuja should be halted pending the outcome of ongoing investigation into the leadership tussle rocking the institution.

    Chairman of the committee, Rep. Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa), made this known in a statement on Friday, after a roundtable with the acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Patricia Lar.

    Fulata appealed to the various parties to embrace dialogue in order to ensure stable academic activities in the university.

    “We urged relevant stakeholders to put on hold all processes that will lead to emergence of the new VC until controversies resulting in the leadership tussle are addressed.

    “The committee, under my leadership, is completely against anything that will affect the calendar and smooth running of the university system,” he said.

    The lawmaker said that following earlier petitions on the sacking of some vice-chancellors and the dissolution of governing councils, the committee took steps to investigate the allegations to ascertain due process.

    He said that efforts were ongoing to recover the 11,000 hectares of land belonging to the university but which was revoked by the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.

    The legislator said that the intervention followed a petition submitted by the university’s Alumni Association, seeking the committee’s intervention.

    “The House Committee on University Education has taken a step to intervene on the revocation of about 11,000 hectares of land belonging to the University of Abuja by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyasom Wike.

    “The decision of his committee’s intervention was sequel to a petition by the University of Abuja Alumni Association, seeking intervention of the parliament.

    “The association noted that FCT minister is seizing 11,000 hectares of land from the University of Abuja while leaving the school with only 4,000 hectares,” he said.

    On her part, Lar said that she had less than one month to complete the six-month period to deliver on her mandate, which was to manage the institution’s affairs, ahead of the appointment of a substantive vice-chancellor.

  • UNICAL @ 50: Invest more in local contents, DON, VC tell FG

    UNICAL @ 50: Invest more in local contents, DON, VC tell FG

    Wevole Ezin.

    The federal government has been urged to prioritize investment in research and local contents development to drive national development.

    Speaking on Wednesday during UNICAL @50 Colloquium, part of the activities lined up to mark the institution’s celebration, the academia, Vice Chancellor of Covenant University, Prof. Abiodun Adebayo also urged the government to channel more resources into university-based research, innovation, and indigenous industries to drive national development.

    Adebayo who was the Lead Presenter at the event held at the University of Calabar International Conference Centre with the theme; “University of Calabar and It’s Contributions to National Development” emphasized that no nation can progress without believing in and investing in its own intellectual and industrial capacity.

    He noted that many Nigerian researchers are winning international grants and making global impacts, yet they struggle to receive adequate support from their own government.

    He wondered why Nigeria President should seek medical treatment abroad when they can develop world-class healthcare facilities here and invest more in the great brains.

    “The president does not need to go to France or anywhere outside the country. Let’s fix our industries and health sector and this can only be done if government begin in our local content. I will like to call on our president Bola Ahmed Tinubu and to really channel resources, there are great minds in this country but because we are not engaging them productively.

    “A lot of us are wining international grants and we are working for them and at the expense of our own government here. Government has not believed totally in what we are able to produce, government need to believe and invest money in our research and let’s believe in our local content.

    “We cannot go global until we begin to believe in our local content and that’s the only time we can move forward as a nation. You see what China and India is doing, they believe more in what they produce rather than.” he stated.

    The professor also pointed to countries like China and India, which have become global leaders by prioritizing local production and research. He urged the Nigerian government to take a similar approach by funding university research centers and industries, particularly in areas like healthcare, technology, and agriculture.

    In her speech earlier before the panel of discussion which was moderated by the Cross River State NUJ, Chairman, Archibong Bassey, the UNICAL VC, Prof. Florence Obi while reflecting on the institute’s journey from its humble beginning to becoming a leading university of higher learning in Nigeria, she said the institute is committed to academic excellence, infrastructural growth and national development.

    “Today’s colloquium is a testament to our institution’s dedication to fostering intellectual discourse, collaboration and knowledge sharing. As we celebrate our past achievements, we must also look ahead with optimism, ensuring that our research and innovations contribute meaningfully to national progress.”

    She further highlighted the critical role that universities play in shaping a nation’s future, urging the federal government and private sectors to invest more in research and local content development.

    Obi said this would further strengthen Nigeria Education system and also drive economic growth, reduce dependency on foreign solutions and provide opportunities for the country’s brightest minds.

    The UNICAL Boss, expressed her appreciation to the faculty students, alumni and distinguished guest for their contributions to the university’s success.

  • Council approves appointment of new ABU VC

    Council approves appointment of new ABU VC

    The Governing Council of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) has approved the appointment of Prof. Adamu Ahmed as the new Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Malam Auwalu Umar, the Director of Public Affairs of the university on Wednesday in Zaria.

    The appointment of Ahmed, he said, was on Wednesday, after the 209th Special Council meeting, presided over by its Chairman, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale-Ahmed.

    NAN reports that in June 2024, President Bola Tinubu appointed Prof. Ahmed, a distinguished scholar of urban and regional planning, as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Education, Kano.

    Ahmed, an academic and administrator, has spent over three decades at the ABU, where he taught and mentored students.

    His academic journey began at ABU, where he earned his first, second, and PhD degrees.

    Ahmed has held various leadership positions, including Head of Urban and Regional Planning, Deputy Director of ABU Consultancy Services, and Director of the Directorate of University Advancement.

  • Ojukwu varsity staff petition EFCC, accuse VC of corruption

    Ojukwu varsity staff petition EFCC, accuse VC of corruption

    Some members staff of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged contract racketeering and abuse of office by the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kate Omenugha.

    The staff in a petition signed on their behalf by Mr Joseph Onu, Managing Consultant at Shield and Sword Consult, Legal Practitioners, said that the vice chancellor did not follow due process in the award of contracts.

    The petition titled: “petition against the Acting VC For contract Racketeering Amounting To Public Procurement Violation, Fraud and Financial Crimes” also accused Omenugha of awarding contracts to family members in violations of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

    The petitioners said that they had concrete evidences to prove the allegations being levelled against the vice chancellor.

    “She has flagrantly abused her office, and indulged in financial rascality through the splitting and awarding of contracts for personal gains.

    “Due process was not followed in splitting and awarding the contracts for 2024 TETFund Project, there were no public notifications for expression of bids as required by the Public Procurement Act.

    ”The staff biometric capturing was awarded to cronies in total disregard for conflict of interest to a company that was inactive for decades,” the petition read in parts.

    The petitioners further alleged that the facelift of the University Gate House, Igbariam Campus was initiated by the vice chancellor and her family members without input from the University’s Director of Physical Planning and valuation by the Council as required by law.

    “The project had gulped between N65 million and N100 million while the solar street lighting in the College of Medicine, Amaku, Awka awarded for about N20 million in similar manner.

    “This project has never worked in the college with the students left in darkness, the contract sum was paid into the account of the Vice-chancellor’s family member,” they alleged.

    The petitioners said the vice chancellor through her family members took advantage of her office to enter a business transaction with the COOU, to sell only their family table water with the brand name KONCIO within the entire university premises.

    “The vice chancellor circumvented the council directive and introduced another table water named B-ORIENT Table water and gave it monopoly of the water market within the University against the decision of the council.

    “A further investigation and petition by a staff to Council on behalf of the shop owners in the University minimart at the Igbariam campus, got Council to once again direct the stoppage of the sale of B-Orient Table water,” they said.

    The petitioners alleged that the money for the production of Student Identification Card which they claimed was diverted to the cronies of the the vice chancellor and cards were not printed.

    “These are dues and service charges generated by the Students Affairs Directorate for running of the students’ hostels and other student activities,” they said.

    They also faulted the call for review of the award of 2023 TETFUND Annual Intervention, being the Construction of the Department Of Architecture building, describing it as a ploy to extort money from the university.

    “Their actions clearly amount to gross violations of the procurement processes and undermines the proper administration of the university,” they said.

    Meanwhile, the management of COOU has dismissed the petition as a calculated attempt to tarnish the reputation of the acting vice chancellor.

    In a statement signed by Dr Harrison Madubueze, the university’s Public Relations Officer, said that the university was not aware of any petition against the vice chancellor.

    “No law enforcement agency has communicated the university with regard to any petition against the acting vice chancellor.

    “If at all there is a petition, it must not be unconnected to the ongoing process for appointment of a substantive vice chancellor for the university.

    “It must be a deliberate attempt to stop her from being appointed, this development exposes the true motives of the faceless beings behind these allegations.

    “Prof. Omenugha has spearheaded transformative change across various facets of the university in terms of values, infrastructure, research, curriculum and standing of the University, including community engagement,” it said.

  • VC tussle: Medical association drags Nnamdi Azikiwe University, others to court

    VC tussle: Medical association drags Nnamdi Azikiwe University, others to court

    The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria has dragged the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, and others to court over who becomes the lawful vice chancellor (VC) of the institution.

    The claimants; the Incorporated Trustees of Medical and Dental Consultants Association of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) and Dr Victor Modekwe, in the suit, prayed the court to perpetually restrain Prof Carol Umobi or any other person from parading themselves as the VC of NAU, Awka in Anambra.

    In the originating summons marked: NICN/ABJ/383/2024, the claimants further urged the court to stop the university, the National University Commission (NUC) and the Federal Ministry of Education from recognising Prof Umobi or any other person appointed as the validly elected VC of the university.

    Other defendants listed in the suit are the Council, Prof Umobi and the acting Registrar,  Mr Victor Modebelu respectively.

    Consequently, the claimants, in a letter by their counsel, J.I Ekeoma, dated Oct. 25, drew the attention of the acting VC, Prof Umobi, and the university authority to the pendency of the suit and the urgent need to maintain status quo on the issue.

    In the letter which chronicled the events that gave rise to the suit, the claimants accused the university of taking discriminatory steps against the 2nd Claimant, Dr Modekwe and other people in the medical and dental fields in the process of appointing a new vice chancellor of the institution.

    They averred that on Sept. 12, the council on behalf of the university, caused a publication to be made by the Vanguard Newspaper and same was published on page 33 of the newspaper.

    It said that the said publication outlined a requirement that sought to disenfranchise and exclude the members from faculties of Medicine and Basic Clinical Sciences in the process of applying for the vacant position of the vice chancellor of the university.

    The lawyer in the letter stated that “instead of undoing the wrong it did to our client, the university informed the association to reach out to the NUC for clarification as to whether the Fellowship is to be considered as an equivalent to Ph.D for the purpose of appointment as the substantive vice chancellor of the university.”

    He alleged that inspite of several demands made by their clients, the university is still taking steps to appoint a new Vice Chancellor based on the discriminatory advert publication.

    Meanwhile, the claimants, in their suit,  prayed the court to declare that “the Medical Fellowship, being the peak of a medical career, is equivalent to the academic title of a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) for the purposes of the advertisement made by the 1st defendant.”

    They equally urged the court to make “a declaration that the 2nd claimant, being the holder of the Medical Fellowship is qualified to contest in the ongoing process to appoint the Vice Chancellor of the 1st defendant and an attempt to exclude the 2nd claimant from participating in the process is illegal, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

    “A declaration that the Vanguard Newspaper publication of September 12, 2024, is a deviation from the publication used in the selection of the Vice Chancellor of the 1st defendant in 2019.

    “A declaration that any appointment of the Vice Chancellor of the 1st defendant based on the Vanguard Newspaper publication of September 12, 2024, is illegal unconstitutional, null, and void and of no effect whatsoever.”

    They, therefore, urged the court to set aside the newspaper publication, describing it as “an illegality.”

  • UNIBEN appoints Prof Omoregie as new VC

    UNIBEN appoints Prof Omoregie as new VC

    The Governing Council of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Friday announced the appointment of Prof. Edoba Bright Omoregie (SAN) as the Vice Chancellor elect of the institution.

    The Chairman of the Governing Council of the university, Prof. Shaibu Umaru, who announced the appointment said Prof. Omoregie emerged out of the 27 persons that applied for the coveted seat.

    Prof. Omoregie, 55 is to succeed Prof. Lilian Imuetinyan Salami on December 1, 2024 as the eleventh substantive vice chancellor of the school.

    Born on April 5, 1969, Prof. Omoregie attended UNIBEN for his first, second and third degrees.

    He was called to the Nigerian bar in 1992 and conferred with the prestigious Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2021.

  • VCs, others place varsity admissions benchmark at 140

    VCs, others place varsity admissions benchmark at 140

    Stakeholders in the education sector on Thursday pegged the minimum benchmark score for admission into universities at 140.

    The benchmark score is not the cut-off mark for admissions for all universities, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, explained during the ongoing policy meeting in Abuja.

    Various institutions had sent their minimum benchmark scores to JAMB. Institutions such as Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos; Covenant University, Ogun state, Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun state and the University of Lagos were the only universities that recommended 200 and above.

    “JAMB does not set cut-off mark. What we have is a minimum benchmark score that in any university cannot go below. Different universities have their benchmark scores.”

  • Council crisis: Court summons UniAbuja VC

    Council crisis: Court summons UniAbuja VC

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, ordered the Vice Chancellor (VC) of University of Abuja, Prof. Rasheed Na’Allah, to appear before it on June 13 to show cause why the planned inauguration of the newly elected Internal Governing Council Members of the institution should not be stopped.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order, in a ruling, shortly after the plaintiffs’ counsel, Maxwell Opara, moved an ex-parte motion to the effect.

    The plaintiffs; Prof. Saint Gbilekaa, Prof. Edmund Nwanna, Prof. Sunday Ejaro, Prof. Kasim Umar, Prof. Wesley Nafarnda and Dr Uju Patrick, had filed the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/683/2024.

    The six aggrieved senior lecturers had sued the VC; President, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and National Universities Commission (NUC) as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

    In the motion dated and filed June 5 through their lawyer, Opara, they sought seven reliefs, which include an order of interim injunction directing all parties to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the motion on notice.

    They also sought an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st defendant (VC) and others from conducting any inauguration of the newly elected internal council members of the university pending the determination of the motion on notice.

    They equally sought an interim injunction restraining the 2nd to 4th defendants from recognising, accepting or otherwise having anything to do with any person or persons purportedly elected as Internal Council Members of the university’s Governing Council by Na’Allah pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    The plaintiffs sought an interim injunction stopping any person or group of persons newly elected as members of Internal Governing Council by the VC in an election conducted on May 28 from parading themselves as of the council pending the determination of the motion on notice.

    They prayed the court to make an interim order restraining Na’Allah from setting up any administrative panel of inquiry or disciplinary committee for the purpose of sanctioning, discipline or questioning the six of them who are the substantive parties in this suit, as any of such as will be prejudicial to the unfettered powers of the honourable court.

    Giving six grounds why the motion should be granted, they argued that the case was duly filed on May 22 and copies of all the processes duly served on Na’Allah by the bailiff

    They said despite the pendency of the suit in court, Na’Allah conducted “the purported election of new Governing Council on May 28, 2024.”

    “The inauguration of the Council of Federal Universities may take place at any moment and presenting the purportedly elected persons as internal Council members of the University of Abuja would have the effect of destroying the res in this case.

    “That the 1st defendant/respondent is intimidating the claimants for approaching court,” they said, among others.

    Justice Ekwo then ordered the plaintiffs to put the defendants on notice of the motion ex-parte within three days of the order.

    “Defendants/Respondents to show cause on the next date of hearing the prayers of the plaintiffs/applicants on the motion ex-parte ought not be granted,” he said.

    The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until June 13 for defendants to show cause.

    NAN

  • UNICAL releases names of abducted students by gunmen

    UNICAL releases names of abducted students by gunmen

    Three undergraduates of the University of Calabar have been kidnapped by gunmen at the school campus two days ago.

    The UNICAL’s Vice Chancellor Prof Florence Banku Obi has revealed the names of the Kidnapped students.

    She gave the names of the abducted students as Dickson Oluwadamilola Ayomide of Genetics and Biotechnology, Ojang Precious Ebijin of Medicine and Surgery and Ugwu Chukwuemeka, also of Genetics and Biotechnology Departments of the University.

    It was gathered  that the incident happened on 29 March 2024 when gun-toting men stormed Freedom Hostel, owned by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at about 7:00pm and whisked the victims away to an unknown destination.

    An witnesses, whose name has been given as Emmanuel Effiom described the abduction as very brazen and terrifying.

    Effiom said: “Most of us even thought they were security personnel. They applied force when one of the guys resisted.

    Sources from the University confirmed that the offices of the Special Assistant Students’ Affairs and the Special Assistant Students’ Orientation to the Governor of Cross River State, the Student Union Government (SUG), and law enforcement agencies, have commenced a comprehensive investigation into the incident and see how they can rescue the victims unhurt.