UNIZIK Crisis: Join me move varsity forward- VC, Odoh begs aggrieved members

The Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, NAU, Awka, Anambra State, Prof Bernard Odoh, has urged members of the institution to join him to move the university forward.

The university has been embroiled in crisis for months over the position of vice-chancellor.

Odoh, a professor of Applied Geophysics from the university was about a month ago appointed as the vice chancellor after a rigorous interview by the governing council.

There had been protests about his appointment, with some members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, questioning his educational qualifications and ascension to the cadre of a Professor.

But the Vice Chancellor in a press conference in Awka on Friday called on all those opposing his leadership to rather join him, saying there cannot be any meaningful development in a university community in the absence of peace.

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Charles Otu, Personal Assistant on Media to the Vice Chancellor, who spoke on his behalf clarified that some allegations levelled against Odoh were false.

He said: “The race for the seventh substantive Vice Chancellor was concluded on October 29, 2024, with Prof. Odoh emerging on top with 90 points.

“A National Industrial Court in Awka validated the Governing Council’s scoring templates, and the Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe-led Governing Council ensured fair hearing, responding to the Medical and Dental Council Association of Nigeria’s concerns.

“Prof. Odoh boasts an impressive academic background, having obtained his Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences in 1999, Master of Science in Applied Geophysics, and Doctorate in Applied Geophysics from NAU in 2008.

“He also served as a visiting Professor of Geophysics at Federal University Gusau in 2014 and became a full Professor of Applied Geophysics in 2015,” Otu said

He urged the media to cross-check facts before publishing, describing Prof. Odoh as a pragmatically ambitious individual who prioritizes the public’s best interest.

Otu said what was most important was that Odoh had a blueprint to develop the university, just as he has marshalled out his plan for the institution’s development in the next five years.