The Federal University Gusau has waded into the controversy surrounding the academic qualifications of the newly-appointed Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UniZik), Awka, Anambra State, Prof. Benard Odoh, as the issue assumed political and ethnic dimensions.
The intervention of the Federal University Gusau has put to rest the insinuations, particularly from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), that Odoh should not have been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of UniZik for allegedly not having been a professor.
In what appears to be a response to the demand by the ASUU President that Odoh was not a full professor and that his appointment as Vice Chancellor be revisited, the authorities at Federal University Gusau clarified that Odoh was actually appointed as a professor in Geological Sciences at the university on October 1, 2015.
A certified true copy of the appointment letter dated November 8, 2024, signed by the Registrar and Secretary to the Council of Federal University Gusau, Ibrahim B. Kaura (who was the pioneer Registrar of the University from 2013-2018), confirming the professorship, was made available to newsmen on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the university management, having received favourable assessment reports from three assessors, approved that Odoh should be promoted to the post of Professor in Geological Sciences on CONUAS Step 1, effective from October 1, 2015.
Based on the clarification by Federal University Gusau, the Information and Public Relations Directorate of UNIZIK, in a statement by its spokesman, Charles Otu, countered the ASUU President’s position, noting that some desperate persons from Nnamdi Azikiwe University were using the ASUU platform to pursue selfish agendas after losing out in the VC race.
The Directorate, in the statement titled “UNIZIK VC Contest is Over: Desperate Persons Using ASUU Platform for Selfish Agenda,” expressed concern that despite knowing the truth about the academic background of Prof. Benard Ifeanyi Odoh, the 7th substantive Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University and the appointment procedures followed by the Governing Council, “some desperate characters have continued to spread lies, falsehoods, and distortions of facts in order to not only whip up sentiments but to unduly heat up the university environment for selfish gains.”
It added, “Such characters behind these sordid acts should therefore be exposed for who they are—they are people of questionable character. After they failed to secure the Vice Chancellor position, they resorted to baseless blackmail. They are those who have been found culpable for one infraction or another in the academic environment. Because the system in place then chose to condone their transgressions or gave them soft landings, they are today emboldened to ‘fight,’ having prospered in the old order, and are very much uncomfortable and uncertain over what the new order holds for them.
“They are the people hiding under the banner of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to pour invectives on the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
“The latest press release signed by the National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, bears the imprimatur of these desperadoes. Osodeke appended his signature to the press release based on ignorance, out of the content fed to him by the desperadoes who still chose to spread falsehood over truth and accuracy.
“To continue to ascribe the erroneous notion that Prof. Benard Odoh is not a full professor, as the ASUU press statement highlighted, is the height of ignorance and misinformation.”
“To set the records straight for the umpteenth time, Benard Ifeanyi Odoh was promoted to the rank of professor at the Federal University Gusau in 2015 under the tenure of the then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Benjamin Chukwuma Okeke. A certified true copy of the letter conveying his formal promotion to full professor in Geological Sciences, with effect from October 1, 2015, dated November 12, 2015, was duly signed by Ibrahim B. Kaura, then Registrar and Secretary to the Council (2013-2018).
“Before his appointment to full professorship at Federal University Gusau, he was appointed a Visiting Professor in 2014 at the same university.
“Distinguished professors P.O. Okeke, formerly of the Department of Geology and Mining, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) and also a consultant on national assignment with the Federal Ministry of Power, and Prof. Aigbedion Isaac of the Geophysics Department, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, were among the team of external assessors who evaluated Odoh for the position of professorship.
“The external assessors evaluated his scholarly inputs, academic qualifications, research works, university administration experience, technical/professional contributions, community service, and came up with a high recommendation for his professorship, which was duly approved. The assessors are still alive today and kicking in good health and have made public documents in this regard.”
