About three Professors are currently jostling to replace Prof. Uche Ikonne as the Vice Chancellor Abia State University, Uturu.
The Governing Council of the University submitted the list of 3 the candidates in order of merit for the position of Vice Chancellor of the Abia State University to the Governor for selection and ratification of one of them as substantive Vice Chancellor, Onyebuchi Ememanka, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor said in a statement.
Submitting the report of the University Governing Council on the selection of new VC of ABSU to the Governor at the Government House, Umuahia the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Senator Adolf Wabara gave the names of the three successful nominees as
1. Prof O. M. Ogbulu, Professor of Finance and current Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University,
2. Professor Martins U. Nwankwo, Professor of History and International Relations of the Imo State University, and
3. Professor Iheanyichukwu Elekwa, a two-time Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration of the University and Professor of Bio-Chemistry.
The statement further said, “Sen. Wabara explained that the extant laws provide that the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board screens and submits candidates which will be ratified by the University Governing Council and forwarded to the Governor to choose from as the substantive Vice Chancellor.
“He disclosed that the Council recieved a total of 21 applications comprising 11 external Professors and 10 Professors from ABSU.
“He urged the Governor to look at the report and play his statutory role of choosing one of the three and pronouncing him as the next Vice Chancellor of the University.
“Senator Wabara thanked the Governor for the bail out of 400million Naira to the University which has been judiciously utilized. He thanked the Governor for his benevolence and fatherly disposition to the University which has taken the institution to higher heights and commended the outgoing VC for his monumental achievement which led to improvement in the ranking of the University.
“Earlier, the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the Abia State University, Professor Uche Ikonne thanked the Governor for his consistent support to the University which has pushed the ranking of the University from No. 96 in the country to Number 26 currently and the second best State University in Nigeria. He particularly thanked the Governor for supporting the University to successfully establish the Faculty of Engineering at Aba which is reasy for full take off.
“Recieving the report, Governor Ikpeazu thanked the Governing Council for a job well done and promised to do the needful to ensure that there is no vacuum in the institution. He said he has absolute faith in their judgement and congratulated the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Prof Uche Ikonne for achieving the milestone.
“He assured that the incoming administration will receive the same support he extended to the outgoing Vice Chancellor even as he promised to support the University and provide more funds to resolve financial issues.
“He appealed to the staff to return to school and continue to teach and directed that the sum of 100million Naira recently approved and sent to the University was for the purpose to offsetting the 30,000 Naira he promised to each Abia student and which will be deducted from their school fees.
“Secretary to Government, Barrister Chris Ezem, Commissioner for Education, Dr. Kck Nwangwa and other top officials of the State Government were present at the event”.
