MOUAU Staff, Student Unions Rally Behind VC Akanwa, Signal Readiness for Collaborative Governance

Staff and student unions at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike have pledged full institutional support to the Vice-Chancellor, Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, marking an early alignment between university leadership and key internal stakeholders.

The commitments were made during a series of courtesy visits in March 2026, with unions affirming their willingness to work with the new administration to stabilize operations and advance institutional priorities.

The Executive Committee of the National Association of Academic Technologists, led by Chioma Iheanyichukwu-Utah, was the first to engage the Vice-Chancellor on March 5. While expressing support, the union flagged unresolved issues including unpaid allowances and strained working relationships within the academic environment, urging management intervention.

Subsequently, the Academic Staff Union of Universities delegation, led by Roseta C. Eneje, reaffirmed its backing for the administration during a March 24 visit. The union emphasized the need for strict adherence to institutional regulations and called for the implementation of agreements reached between the Federal Government and ASUU.

On March 31, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, represented by its National Vice-President (East), Okechukwu Animba, formally introduced its newly elected campus leadership, including Chairman St. Elvis Ogbuagu, and pledged cooperation with the Vice-Chancellor’s team.

Across the engagements, Akanwa acknowledged the unions’ support and positioned dialogue as the primary mechanism for conflict resolution and institutional progress. She assured stakeholders of a transparent leadership approach and reiterated her administration’s commitment to staff welfare and responsive governance.

The early convergence between management and unions reflects a pragmatic shift toward partnership-driven administration, with internal stakeholders now positioned as critical enablers of stability, reform, and innovation within the university system.