After one month of uncertainty, tension, conspiracy theories, protests, and crisscrossing Abuja letters, Professor Romanus Ezeokonkwo, a long frontrunner, has emerged successor of Professor Charles Igwe. The latter was the 15th VC of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
Prof. Ezeokonkwo, in a senate election, polled 200 votes to beat two other Deputy Vice Chancellors (DVCs), Prof Johnson Urama (DVC, Academics, 180 votes) and Prof. Daniel Nwachukwu (DVC, Enugu Campus, 25 votes).
Join our WhatsApp ChannelProfessor Ezeokonkwo, 59, hails from Aguata LGA in Anambra State. He is of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, where he rose through the ranks as Head, Department of Veterinary Parasitology & Entomology, and Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. He has been Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship and Development Research (CEDR), Dean, and later Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies, and until June 7, Deputy VC (Admin), UNN. He was also a member of the UNN Governing Council. He has at least 20 academic attainments, positions, laurels, and administrative experiences in the UNN and beyond.
His election happened at the valedictory senate meeting of Prof. Charles Igwe, which was also the 422 (Special) meeting of the UNN Senate. The senate meeting therefore, was a momentous occasion for many reasons, not least the time for Prof. Igwe, to felicitate with fellow senators after an eventful five years of office.
READ ALSO: How VC Election Prompts Highest UNN Senate Attendance In 20 Years
The COVID-19 pandemic, which defined the economies and politics in many societies as well as very long ASUU strikes almost blighted the tenure of Prof. Igwe. Having made great use of the remaining three years or so, Prof. Igwe had a lot to rejoice about. However, the other events of the afternoon, during the senate meeting, made it far more than a valedictory meeting.
Some Prior Distractions
Prof. Igwe was full of emotions as he read a brief, but loaded speech. After the speech, two quick elections were held to vote for a substantive Provost and Deputy Provost for the university’s College of Postgraduate Studies. The acting Provost, Prof. Obi Njoku, was elected the substantive provost. Prof. Igwe then scarily introduced the procedure for the election of the VC. He spent a goodly one hour trying to defuse a torrent of lies, allegations and conspiracy theories about his intentions to foist an acting VC on UNN. He used direct expressions, innuendos and, at times, diatribes and swear words to show an apparent aversion to the attacks he had received on the matter. Prominent among the attacks was a June 5 protest by one Nsukka Youth General Assembly, which alleged secret moves by Prof. Igwe to install his successor through the backdoor, having postponed a meeting for election of a new VC indefinitely.
Dr Mbamalu, a Jefferson Fellow and Member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), is a Publisher and Communications/Media Consultant. His extensive research works on Renewable Energy and Health Communication are published in several international journals, including SAGE.
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Dr. Marcel Mbamalu is a distinguished communication scholar, journalist, and entrepreneur with three decades of experience in the media industry. He holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and serves as the publisher of Prime Business Africa, a renowned multimedia news platform catering to Nigeria and Africa's socio-economic needs.
Dr. Mbamalu's journalism career spans over two decades, during which he honed his skills at The Guardian Newspaper, rising to the position of senior editor. Notably, between 2018 and 2023, he collaborated with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Northeast Nigeria, training senior journalists on conflict reporting and health journalism.
Dr. Mbamalu's expertise has earned him international recognition. He was the sole African representative at the 2023 Jefferson Fellowship program, participating in a study tour of the United States and Asia (Japan and Hong Kong) on inclusion, income gaps, and migration issues.
In 2020, he was part of a global media team that covered the United States presidential election.
Dr. Mbamalu has attended prestigious media trainings, including the Bloomberg Financial Journalism Training and the Reuters/AfDB Training on "Effective Coverage of Infrastructural Development in Africa."
As a columnist for The Punch Newspaper, with insightful articles published in other prominent Nigerian dailies, including ThisDay, Leadership, The Sun, and The Guardian, Dr. Mbamalu regularly provides in-depth analysis on socio-political and economic issues.
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