The Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, has appointed Professor Carol Chinyelugo Arinze-Umobi as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution, following the expiration of the tenure of Professor Joseph Ikechebelu, who had served in an acting capacity since June 2023.
The announcement was formally communicated by Njelita Louis O., Acting Head of Information, Public Relations, and Protocol at the university in a statement shared with EduCeleb.com.
The appointment, conveyed in a letter signed by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Barrister Olugbenga M. Kukoyi (SAN), takes effect from Monday, May 19, 2025. The letter clarified that the appointment is in accordance with Section 5(13) of the University Act and is to last for a maximum of six months or until a substantive Vice-Chancellor is appointed, whichever comes first.
Filling in amidst succession crisis
Professor Arinze-Umobi, a seasoned academic and the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the university, steps into the role amid a lingering succession crisis that has gripped the institution for nearly a year.
The leadership vacuum was created following the controversial end of tenure of the former substantive Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone, in June 2023. Since then, internal tussles, legal disputes, and allegations of procedural breaches have stalled the appointment of a new substantive Vice-Chancellor.
The process to select Esimone’s successor has been marred by allegations of irregularities and factional interests within the university community. The first attempt to appoint a substantive VC was aborted in 2023 after protests erupted over alleged marginalisation and lack of transparency in the selection process. The university’s alumni and staff unions, including ASUU-UNIZIK, have repeatedly called for adherence to due process in the appointment.
Professor Romanus Ezeokonkwo was announced as the Vice-Chancellor-designate of UNIZIK in late 2023, following the end of Esimone’s tenure. However, his appointment quickly became controversial due to allegations regarding discrepancies in his academic qualifications and publications, as well as questions about due process in the selection exercise.
The Federal Ministry of Education intervened and ordered the Governing Council to suspend the appointment, pending a thorough review.
Subsequently, Professor Ezeokonkwo’s appointment was nullified, and Professor Joseph Ikechebelu, who had served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), was appointed to steer the university in acting capacity amid the leadership stalemate. His extended stay, which lasted nearly a year, became a subject of contention among stakeholders, with questions raised about the legality and fairness of the delay in naming a substantive vice-chancellor.
Stabilising the UNIZIK system
The latest appointment of Prof. Arinze-Umobi is widely seen as an attempt by the university’s Governing Council to stabilize the institution while ongoing issues surrounding the substantive VC selection are resolved. She becomes the first woman to hold the position in the history of the university, a development that has been hailed in some quarters as a positive step toward inclusive leadership.
Reacting to the development, a university official who preferred not to be named said, “Professor Arinze-Umobi is respected for her integrity and administrative competence. Her appointment brings a sense of calm, and we hope she can lead effectively during this transition period.”
Her resumption on May 19 will mark a new phase in the leadership of UNIZIK, as expectations mount for the Governing Council to conclude the process of appointing a substantive Vice-Chancellor in the coming months.
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