The Federal Government has announced the reinstatement of Professor Joseph Ikechebelu as the Acting Vice-Chancellor and Mr. Victor Modebelu as Acting Registrar of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK).
The announcement was made by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval to nullify the appointment of Professor Benard Ifeanyi Odoh as the 7th substantive vice-chancellor of the institution.
In a letter to Ikechebelu, Sani-Gwarzo conveyed the President’s approval for his reinstatement, directing him to take charge of the university’s administration immediately.
He further instructed that any matters requiring the approval of the dissolved council be forwarded to the Minister of Education for consideration until a new council is reconstituted by the President.
Ikechebelu, who had originally been appointed as acting vice-chancellor in early June, was controversially removed in July by the then-university council. The recent reinstatement follows the dismissal of Professor Odoh, which came just days after President Tinubu’s action last week Wednesday.
Additionally, the government reinstated Mr. Victor Modebelu as Acting Registrar of the university. Modebelu, who had previously served in the role, replaces Rosemary Nwokike, who was sacked as the university’s substantive registrar by the President on the same day as Odoh’s dismissal.
These changes mark a significant shift in the administration of UNIZIK, with the government seeking to restore order following months of controversy surrounding the appointments.
