From Agency Report

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, staged a peaceful protest to oppose the selection process of the new Vice Chancellor.

The protest, according to Tribune Online, was prompted by ongoing tensions over the choice of the next vice chancellor at the university.

While the protest unfolded, the university’s governing council, led by Chairman Amb. Greg Mbadiwe proceeded with the selection process at the council chambers on Tuesday.

Addressing journalists after the protest, ASUU-UNIZIK branch chairman, Prof. Kingsley Oborji, appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for urgent intervention to protect the university, named after Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, from potential instability.

Prof. Oborji alleged that Amb. Mbadiwe was attempting to impose a vice chancellor who was not originally affiliated with UNIZIK. He called for due process to prevent a breakdown of law and order within the institution.

Protesters carried placards with various inscriptions, including: “Amb. Greg Mbadiwe, Respect Our University,” “ASUU-NAU Wants Due Process,” “ASUU-NAU Says No to Imposition of VC,” “Tinubu, Call Greg to Order,” and “Vice Chancellors Are Not Appointed in a Hotel.”

Meanwhile, the university’s governing council, led by Amb. Mbadiwe, has appointed Professor Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh as the 7th substantive vice chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Prof. Odoh, a professor of geophysics, hails from the Department of Applied Geophysics, Faculty of Physical Sciences at the university.

Announcing the appointment after a rigorous selection process involving interviews with 15 applicants, the Pro-Chancellor disclosed that Professor Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh emerged as the top candidate for the position of Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, based on his extensive experience in university teaching, research, and administration.

Born on August 5, 1975, Odoh is from Ezza North LGA in Ebonyi State. He is an alumnus of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, having graduated from the Department of Geological Sciences in 1999. In 2009, he was appointed as a Lecturer I in the same department after earning his Ph.D. in 2008.

Odoh served as a member of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Senate from 2010 to 2014 and held the role of Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor (Academic Matters I), where he coordinated the UTME exercise from June to October 2014. In 2015, he was promoted to Professor at Federal University Gusau.

With over 120 research publications in esteemed international journals, e-books, and monographs, Prof. Odoh has made significant contributions to academia. Additionally, he served as Secretary to the Ebonyi State Government before returning to Nnamdi Azikiwe University in 2019.

His roles at the university include board member of the Confucius Institute and member of the Admission and Examination Monitoring Committee. He also served as Director of the Centre for Water Resources Capacity Building Network for the Southeast Zone (2010-2014) and as Coordinator of UNIZIK Seismic Observatory Station during the same period.

Prof. Odoh represented Nigeria as a delegate at a Higher Education Administration seminar for Anglophone African countries in China from October 19 to November 7, 2013, sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Education.

Professor Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh brings a wealth of experience to his new role as Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. His distinguished academic and professional background includes membership in the NWRI-UNESCO stakeholders committee, which developed the M.Sc. curriculum for Integrated Water Resources Management for Nigerian universities. Additionally, he is a member of prominent professional organisations, including the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (USA), the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers, the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, and the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society.

In 2024, Prof. Odoh served as Lead Research Consultant to the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC). His commitment to academic mentorship is evident through his leadership of the NAU team, which achieved first place among 26 African universities and represented Africa in the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Imperial Barrel Award (AAPG IBA) Finals held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in May 2013, where they placed fifth globally.

His leadership experience includes his participation in the Voluntary Visitors Leadership Programme for newly-appointed Nigerian Vice-Chancellors in the United States. This programme, held in collaboration with the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the U.S. Department of State from October 13-23, 2010, provided additional training in educational leadership.

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