UNIZIK VC Under Fire: Unveiling the Scandal Shaking the University
Over the past few weeks, the Nnamdi Azikiwe University has been embroiled in a tense leadership tussle. The position of the Vice Chancellor has caused a lot of chaos in the Institution, but somehow people seem not to know why. Well, there is an explanation.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
The tense situation surrounding the Vice Chancellorship Position in Nnamdi Azikiwe University dates back to early October. The first sign of trouble was the grievances held by the Medical and Dental Council Association In UNIZIK, who alleged that they were being excluded from the Vice Chancellorship race.
According to them, the Pro Chancellor of the University and the Governing Council had revised the criteria for the position. The Position used to require a Doctorate degree or any other equivalent. The Equivalent was for People whose administrative position in the University filled in for a Doctorate. This was revoked by the Council, making the Doctorate the only requirement. They also alleged that the election was not following due process and that the Council was positioning a candidate whose qualifications remained under scrutiny. The protests were loud and even culminated in a strike action by the members of the MDCN. The Council however obtained a court consent on October 19 which cleared the way for the election.
The Election eventually took place with Professor Bernard Odoh emerging as the Vice Chancellor of the University onn the 29th October, 2024. This elicited further backlash, and an escalation of the tension. It was argued from all quarters of the Institution that he was not qualified as he was not even a Professor yet but an Associate Professor and as such wasn't qualified to be Vice Chancellor. The Vice Chancellorship position requires a ten year full Professorship tenure which Prof Odoh does not possess. Another shocking revelation came from the Federal University Gusau which released a memo dissociating the Institution from the said Professor who claimed to have gotten his Professorship from the Institution. According to the memo, he had never headed a Geo physics department as claimed, neither had he been a staff whatsoever of the Institution. In response to this, the Federal Government annuled his appointment a s Vice Chancellor, removing him from the Position with Immediate effect.
However, the Vice Chancellor claims to still be in charge and would resume work as scheduled. This issue comes at a time where they are claims of the Politicisation of the Vice Chancellorship position In Institutions, with some claiming that they are being Positioned to help rig coming 2027 elections.
