Staff members of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), owned by the Anambra State Government, have urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to formally announce the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor, marking the conclusion of the institution’s selection process.
In a press statement released on Wednesday in Awka, the university staff commended Governor Soludo for upholding due process and praised the Governing Council for its diligence throughout the selection exercise.
The statement was jointly signed by Professors Peter Okonkwo, Stephen Unachukwu, and Mbanefo Odum on behalf of their colleagues.
According to them, the selection and search committees had completed their work and forwarded their recommendations to the governor.
They emphasized that this was the first time in the university’s 25-year history that the selection of a Vice Chancellor had followed such a transparent and credible procedure.
It was revealed that the report from the joint selection committee was officially submitted to the governor on Friday, August 1.
The academics also acknowledged the role of the University’s Governing Council, chaired by Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, noting that the governor had directed the council to strictly adhere to due process within a legally binding and procedural framework.
The statement read in part, “Credit must be given to the Visitor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who, with an in-depth understanding of the University system, declined to predetermine a preferred outcome.”
They also praised the efforts of the selection committee, saying: “Equal commendation is due to the seven-member Joint Council Senate Selection and Appointment Committee, which conducted a seamless process that was unanimously endorsed by all members without dispute.”
The statement added, “The Joint Council/Senate Selection Committee, having completed their assignment and submitted to the visitor, it is expected that the visitor should, in line with Ordinance 11 (4d), appoint the candidate who placed first.”
The vacant VC position, they explained, was advertised on January 2 with clear statutory criteria, as provided in the COOU Law of 2014, for both internal and external candidates.
They noted that the council’s adherence to due process and legal provisions should now prompt the governor to act on his earlier promise to announce the new VC once the final results were submitted.
According to them, the COOU governing law stipulates that the joint selection committee is required to recommend three candidates in order of merit. The staff urged the governor to uphold the merit-based outcome.
“The Council shall consider the list so submitted, determine its order of merit following the provisions of the University’s governing documents, and recommend to the Visitor for appointment the candidate placed first in its merit ranking.”
“The Council shall also forward the names of the candidates placed second and third, together with a reasoned justification for its determined order of merit,” the statement concluded.
