Delight Chinedum

Staff and students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, have commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing a renowned legal practitioner and administrative egghead as the University’s Pro-Chancellor.

They credited his leadership and wisdom for the stability and enormous progress recorded in the university in the past few months.

Recall that the university had been enmeshed in crisis before the appointment of Barrister Monsur Olugbenga Kukoyi, with critical stakeholders of the university, including, students, staff and the alumni expressing 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 Barr Kukoyi to UNIZIK seeing that his coming is akin to a breadth 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.

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.

“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 some 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 could 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 goes strictly by the rules) the university has seen in a very long time. Indeed, since his coming, most members of the university community have become acquainted with the University Act since he supports his actions with quotes from the Statute.

“We are not very surprised with the success he has recorded in a very short time because, given his background as a lawyer and antecedents we looked forward to some stability and good working relationship, but he has even surpassed our expectations.

“He is the first Pro-Chancellor to physically address the Senate and has even promised to make his interactions with the Senate and critical stakeholders, regular. He has worked so harmoniously with the Acting Vice-Chancellor to restore the University’s glory and recover us 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 Barr Kukoyi’s style of leadership. We are grateful to President Tinubu for giving us a man, I can confidently describe as the most skillful and professional Pro-Chancellor we have seen in a very long time.”

As the University inches closer to the process of appointing a substantive VC, stakeholders are united in expressing confidence in Barrister Olugbenga Kukoyi’s ability to navigate the process with minimal rancour.