The Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State has appointed Prof. Benard Ifeanyi Odoh Odoh, a Professor of Geophysics in the University’s Department of Applied Geophysics, Faculty of Physical Sciences, as the 7th substantive Vice Chancellor of the University.
He was appointed on Tuesday by the University’s Governing Council led by the Pro- Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Amb. Greg Mbadiwe, during an interview with shortlisted candidates that applied for the position of the Vice Chancellor.
SaharaReporters reported on Monday that the school’s Senate had resolved not to further participate in the selection of Vice-Chancellor and similar selections until the criteria published in the Vanguard Newspaper of September 12, 2024 for the selection of Vice-Chancellor are corrected in a well-advertised corrigendum.
It was earlier reported that the management of the University had invited the candidates who submitted applications to contest the Vice Chancellor position for an interview on Tuesday, October 29, 2024.
SaharaReporters on Monday reported that the Incorporated Trustees of Medical and Dental Consultants Association of NAUTH Nnewi and Dr. Victor Modekwe had filed a suit before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), seeking an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the 1st and 4th Defendants/Respondents, their agents, assigns, servants, representatives, privies, or whosoever acting on their behalf from carrying on with the process of appointment of a Vice Chancellor based on the publication of September 12, 2024 pending the hearing and determination of the suit by the court.
Joined in the suit marked No. NICN/ABJ/383/2024 as Defendants are Nnamdi Azikiwe University, National Universities Commission, Federal Ministry of Education and The Council, Nnamdi Azikiwe University as the 1st to 4th Defendants/Respondents.
Prof. Carol Arinze Umobi, Ag. Vice Chancellor, and Mr. Victor Modebelu, Ag. Registrar of the University were also joined in the suit as the 5th and 6th Defendants/Respondents.
SaharaReporters gathered that despite protests and outrage over the skewed process, the Governing Council sat and appointed Prof. Odoh, a former Secretary to the Government of Ebonyi State as the school’s VC.
Odoh began his academic voyage in 2006 as an Assistant Lecturer, Department of Geology and Exploration Geophysics, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki.
In 2009, he officially joined Nnamdi Azikiwe University as Lecturer I in the Department of Geological Sciences, Faculty of Physical Sciences. By 2012, he was made a Senior Lecturer and became a Reader in 2019.
In 2014, Odoh was made a Visiting Professor of Geological Sciences, Federal University of Gusau and was assessed and appointed as a substantive Professor of Geological Sciences, University of Gusau in 2015.
