The sacking of Professor Bernard Odoh as the Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, commonly known as UNIZIK, has continued to generate controversy. Appointed as the university's seventh substantive vice-chancellor on 29 October 2024, Professor Odoh’s tenure was short-lived, as the Federal Ministry of Education nullified his appointment on 1 November. This decision was further reinforced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who also dissolved the university’s Governing Council for allegedly violating due process in the selection process.
In a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, and another statement by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Education, the ministry described Professor Odoh’s appointment as irregular and unauthorized. The statements indicated that the Governing Council had bypassed required procedures and stakeholders in the selection process, leading to the illegal appointment.
Reacting to the development, Professor Odoh, through his spokesperson Charles Otu, disputed the legitimacy of the Ministry of Education's action. He argued that the ministry lacks the constitutional authority to remove him or dissolve the council. He further suggested that the purported removal did not emanate from the Presidency or the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, as it should have. According to him, the letter was signed by a director within the Ministry of Education rather than a permanent secretary or higher-ranking official, raising doubts about its authenticity.
Professor Odoh accused the ministry of overstepping its boundaries and failing to adhere to due process. He highlighted that the matter was already being litigated in court and insisted that the ministry’s actions amounted to interference in ongoing judicial proceedings. Furthermore, he contended that his academic qualifications and the process leading to his appointment had been transparently presented, questioning the ministry’s claim of his being “unqualified.”
The controversy surrounding Professor Odoh's appointment stemmed from questions over his academic profile and the procedural integrity of his selection. His profile on the university’s website claimed he served as a visiting professor at the Federal University, Gusau (FUGUS), Zamfara State, from 2015 to 2017. However, both FUGUS and the local chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) refuted this claim. In addition, allegations of irregularities in the advertisement and recruitment process were raised by the university’s ASUU chapter and the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria.
The Ministry of Education had earlier nullified Professor Odoh’s appointment via a memo dated 1 November 2024, citing the absence of representatives from the ministry and other stakeholders during the selection process. The university’s Governing Council, chaired by Greg Mbadiwe, had defended its decision, asserting that the appointment was in compliance with a valid court ruling directing the council to exercise its statutory authority.
Despite these developments, Professor Odoh has maintained his stance, asserting that he would remain in office pending the court’s decision. He described the ministry’s actions as dictatorial and accused unnamed individuals of attempting to destabilize the university through political machinations. He also pointed out that the Governing Council’s Chairman, who was also affected by the dissolution, had not been formally notified.
The situation has elicited mixed reactions, with ASUU’s National President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, condemning Professor Odoh’s appointment as a mockery of the university system. The union accused the Governing Council of disregarding established protocols in the selection process, a charge the council has repeatedly denied.
As the saga unfolds, stakeholders in the university community and the public are watching closely. Professor Odoh, for his part, has called for calm and urged members of the university to continue their activities without disruption. The legal and administrative tussle is expected to shape the future leadership of UNIZIK while raising broader questions about governance and accountability in Nigeria’s higher education system.
