Staff and students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, have expressed gratitude to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for his foresight in appointing a renowned legal practitioner and administrative expert as the University’s Pro-Chancellor. They credit his leadership and wisdom for the stability and significant progress recorded in the university over the past few months.
Recalling that the university had been embroiled in crisis before the appointment of Barrister Monsur Olugbenga Kukoyi, numerous respondents from critical stakeholders of the university, including students, staff, and alumni, expressed satisfaction with the way the legal luminary has handled the university’s administration so far. They also expressed gratitude to the Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, for redeploying Barrister Kukoyi to UNIZIK, seeing that his arrival has been akin to a breath of fresh air.
According to various respondents who spoke to our correspondents, the commendable stability and progress in the university could only be possible due to the synergy between the Pro-Chancellor and the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Ikechebelu.
According to a student union leader who is also a 300-level student of the Department of Applied Biochemistry, the university has never had it so good before the appointment of the current Pro-Chancellor.
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“Before this current Acting Vice-Chancellor, we, the students, were concerned about the safety of our academic pursuits, as it became obvious that some politicians were desperate to contaminate our beloved university with crude power play and desperate politicking. But since the appointment of this current Pro-Chancellor, we have seen the kind of stability that had been lacking in the university for a very long time, and most of us can now go to bed with our eyes closed, as it is very obvious that the management is on the same page with the council. Hence, the enormous progress the university has recorded in a very short period.”
A member of the University’s Senate also corroborated these claims by describing Barrister Kukoyi as the most professional Pro-Chancellor (who strictly follows the rules) the university has seen in a very long time. Indeed, since his arrival, most members of the university community have become acquainted with the University Act, as he supports his actions with quotes from the statute.
“We are not very surprised by the success he has recorded in a very short time because, given his background as a lawyer and his antecedents, we looked forward to some stability and a good working relationship. However, he has even surpassed our expectations. He is the first Pro-Chancellor to physically address the Senate and has promised to make his interactions with the Senate and critical stakeholders regular. He has worked harmoniously with the Acting Vice-Chancellor to restore the university’s glory and recover from the crisis of the recent past. Indeed, the Acting VC, in an apparent show of gratitude, admitted that the successes recorded during the 19th Convocation ceremonies were largely due to Barrister Kukoyi’s leadership style. We are grateful to President Tinubu for giving us a man I can confidently describe as the most skilful and professional Pro-Chancellor we have seen in a very long time.”
As the university inches closer to the process of appointing a substantive Vice-Chancellor, stakeholders are united in expressing confidence in Barrister Olugbenga Kukoyi’s ability to navigate the process with minimal rancour.
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