The 34-year-old Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), a Federal Government–owned institution in Abia State, has formally inaugurated the MOUAU Business School (MBS), joining the league of universities worldwide that operate dedicated business schools.

The Business School is one of the key legacies of Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, the university’s sixth Vice-Chancellor, whose five-year tenure statutorily ended on Saturday, February 28, 2026, amid widespread commendation from staff, students, and other stakeholders.
The inauguration ceremony, held on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the university’s new Public Lecture Theatre, featured a flagship lecture titled “Shaping the Future of Business Education: Institutional Vision, Academic Excellence, and Industry Relevance at MOUAU Business School.” The lecture was delivered by John Uzoma Ihendinihu, Professor of Accounting and Taxation, former Dean of the College of Management Sciences, and member of the MBS Board of Directors.

Professor Ihendinihu described the establishment of the Business School as more than the creation of a new academic unit, noting that it represents a clear declaration of MOUAU’s intent to shape the future of leadership, enterprise, and economic transformation in Nigeria and beyond.

Speaking at the event, Professor Iwe, who served as the pioneer Chairman of the MBS Board, described the occasion as particularly significant—not only because of the unveiling of an academic institution of strategic importance, but also because it coincided with the transition of leadership to his designated successor, Ursula Ngozi Akanwa.

Professor Iwe explained that the conception of the MOUAU Business School was driven by his administration’s resolve to strengthen institutional governance, expand academic offerings, improve infrastructure, restore confidence in university processes, and reposition the institution for relevance in a rapidly evolving global environment.

“These efforts were never about personal legacy, but about laying foundations strong enough to outlive any single administration. It was in this spirit that the MOUAU Business School was conceived,” he said.

Reflecting on his assumption of office as Vice-Chancellor, Professor Iwe noted that he was guided by the conviction that a university must not only preserve knowledge but also respond to societal needs, anticipate future challenges, and prepare leaders capable of shaping that future with competence and character.

According to him, this philosophy informed his administration’s decision to establish the Business School as part of a broader strategy to ensure that MOUAU rises to meet the demands of its time and remains relevant in the global academic and economic landscape.

The inauguration also featured the formal unveiling of the MBS Board and Management teams, marking the commencement of full academic and administrative operations at the Business School