New UNIZIK VC takes over
The Senate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has ratified the appointment of the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu, as the Vice-Chancellor of the institution in acting capacity.
Ikechebelu takes over from the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone, whose tenure ended on June 3, 2024.
This is following a directive from the Federal Government, through the National Universities Commission, that all the outgoing vice-chancellors of federal universities should hand over to the next most senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, in line with extant regulations governing the administration of Federal Universities.
Going by the NUC directive, Ikechebelu, who is the only Deputy Vice Chancellor in UNIZIK, has taken over from Esimone, who will formally hand over to him on June 4, pending the appointment of a substantive vice-chancellor.
This appointment of Ikechebelu was made at a special Senate meeting held in the University auditorium on Monday.
In the statement signed by the Acting Executive Secretary, NUC, Chris J. Maiyaki, the outgoing Vice-Chancellors are also requested to ensure that a detailed handover report documenting key activities, ongoing projects, university assets, financial statements, and any other
pertinent information, forms part of the handover process.
The five-year tenure of Prof. Esimone will end on June 4, 2024, after having assumed office at about the same time in 2019.
The Acting Executive Secretary, Chris J. Maiyaki, signed the directive with the caption, ‘Handover protocol for outgoing Vice chancellors’.
It read in part, “I write to convey the directive of the Honourable Minister of Education, to the effect that Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities, who are rounding up their tenures, should hand over their responsibilities to their most senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the university, in line with extant regulations governing the administration of Federal Universities, which stipulates that Vice-Chancellors are not to remain in Office beyond their designated terminal dates.
“This measure is to ensure a smooth and seamless transition in the leadership of the universities, thereby maintaining the requisite stability and continuity for the effective administration and academic performance of the various institutions.
“Out-going Vice-Chancellors are further, requested to ensure that a detailed handover report documenting key activities, ongoing projects, university assets, financial statements, and any other pertinent information, forms part of the handover process.
“Please note that the Federal Ministry of Education and your respective University Senates must be duly notified of your handover before the terminal dates.
The Federal Ministry of Education appreciates the contributions of all outgoing Vice-Chancellors and anticipates your cooperation in ensuring a smooth transition process.
“This directive is effective immediately and compliance is mandatory. Please accept the renewed assurances of my highest considerations and best wishes.”
Meanwhile, the outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Esimone, had listed some of his achievements during his tenure at the institution, including, the introduction of grants, writing, promotion of 150 staff, and increasing the University’s IGR from N60 million to N90 million.
He also listed the decentralisation of the matriculation exercise to faculties, promotion of the Inaugural Lectures Series to enable lecturers/professors to showcase their professionalism with utmost confidentiality, intense supervision of Tertiary Education Trust Fund projects in the University, introduction of Conferences, creation of innovation centre, wide publicity of the varsity activities, construction of befitting students hostels, construction of fully equipped ultra-modern surge centre within the precincts of the University Medical Centre, Awka, and setting up of research centre for Aging and Psychological Health, Awka campus, as part of his achievements.
He said, “My administration established a community development centre that partners with the Anambra State Government on her ongoing “One Youth, Two Skill Programme. I also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with an agric-allied company to plant economy trees to boost the institution’s internally generated revenue.
“Unizik is one of the Universities in this 21st Century that have attained the International standard.
“My administration’s resolved not to give up until project 200 of making the university among the 10 best in Nigeria and among the best 200 in the world was actualised.
“On assumption into office in 2019, I articulated a five-pronged strategy predicated on the drive for academic excellence, productive public/community service, administrative reforms, discipline and advancements, the ACADA strategy, together with its antecedent vision. These he sums up as ‘Project 200′ has so far been an achievement to the glory of God Almighty.”
