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The Governing Council of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), has initiated moves to appoint another acting vice chancellor of the institution.
This was revealed in a letter dated 1st August 2024 and signed by General Ike Nwachukwu, Pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council, addressed to the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Romanus Ezeokonkwo.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThis comes two months after Professor Ezeokonkwo was elected following the expiration of the tenure of Professor Charles Igwe in June.
According to a statement by the university spokesperson, Okwun Omeaku, Professor Ezeokonkwo had scored 200 votes to defeat other candidates in the election conducted by the senate at its 422nd session on Friday, 7th June 2024.
Professor Ezeokonkwo defeated two other candidates nominated for the election – Professor, Johnson Urama, deputy vice-chancellor Academic in UNN and Professor Daniel Nwachukwu, the deputy vice-chancellor, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus.
In the letter sighted by Prime Business Africa, the University Governing Council requested the UNN Senate to recommend five suitable candidates for consideration by the Council in the appointment as acting vice-chancellor pending the appointment of a substantive one.
According to the letter, the current acting vice-chancellor is to convene the Senate to forward the recommended names to the Council on or before Wednesday, 14th August 2024 for consideration and subsequent appointment.
READ ALSO: How VC Election Prompts Highest UNN Senate Attendance In 20 Years
Part of the letter reads: “Following the expiration of the tenure of the former Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Charles Arizechukwu Igwe, it has become imperative that the Council appoints an acting Vice- Chancellor pending the appointment of substantive one. Consequently, we hereby request that Senate recommends (Five) suitable candidates for consideration by the Council in the appointment of Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University.
“Being a Pan-Nigerian University, the Council is determined to ensure fairness, equity and justice in all its appointments, hence, your recommendation should take into cognizance the most suitable and competent individuals as well as the diverse interest represented in the university community.”
The Council also listed criteria that each candidate to be nominated for the appointment must have which include:
“a) Must be of the rank of full Professor for at least eight years.
“b) Must have prior experience as a Provost, or Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
“c) Must be at least 65 years of age
“d) Should not have interest in running for the substantive position of the Vice-Chancellor, this is to ensure a fair opportunity for future candidates for the position of Vice-Chancellor.
“The temporary Acting VC should convene the UNN Senate to forward the said five names (including females) to Council on or before (12 Noon, Wednesday 12 August, 2024) for consideration and subsequent appointment as Acting VC, pending the appointment of the substantive VC.”
The move to appoint another acting vice-chancellor coupled with the short notice for the Senate to convene and nominate candidates for the appointment comes as a surprise to many as the current acting vice-chancellor has not exhausted the six months required by law after which a substantive one can be elected.
The acting vice-chancellor was said to have received the letter on Friday, 9th August at 4 pm. Sources within the university community said the letter was backdated to 1st August, while it was actually issued on 9th August.
