After months of turmoil, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) has regained stability as its acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ikechukwubelu, confirmed that “normalcy has returned” to the institution.
Prof. Ikechukwubelu attributed the resolution to the timely intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which effectively quelled the leadership crisis that had plagued the university.
Addressing journalists at the university’s Executive Chamber on November 25, 2025, Prof. Ikechukwubelu expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for stepping in and praised the president’s commitment to “due diligence” and his “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Prof. Ikechukwubelu stated, “His Excellency’s intervention has shown that he has a listening ear, is a stickler for due diligence, and is committed to his Renewed Hope Agenda, which has indeed renewed our hope in Nnamdi Azikiwe University that there will be respect for the University Act and due process.”
The crisis, which arose from controversies surrounding the selection process for a new Vice Chancellor and Registrar, had intensified due to actions by the now-dissolved Governing Council. Ikechukwubelu described their moves as “a brazen disregard of the University Act and known processes for such appointments,” adding, “Had this disingenuous action succeeded, it would have set a dangerous precedent in the Nigerian University system and this university would have been bastardised by further acts of impunity.”
Prof. Ikechukwubelu also extended appreciation to other key figures involved in resolving the crisis, including Dr. Olatunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, who took “prompt positive action” upon assuming office, and Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, Minister of State for Education.
He credited Mr. Chris Jibreel Maiyaki, Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), for his essential role in the university supervision and in addressing the matter.
Furthermore, he acknowledged the efforts of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNIZIK Chapter, its National Executive Committee, and the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) for their strong advocacy in resolving the crisis. “We appreciate the efforts of ASUU and MDCAN for the dogged fight that succeeded in arresting this ugly episode,” he said.
Looking forward, Prof. Ikechukwubelu outlined his vision to guide UNIZIK through this transitional period, focusing on five goals: “Beautify UNIZIK; Light up UNIZIK; Excellent UNIZIK; Digitalize UNIZIK; and Secure UNIZIK,” a vision he summarized under the acronym BLESSED. His immediate task as acting VC, he noted, would be to “douse the tension” and restore an environment conducive to a peaceful appointment process for the next Vice Chancellor and Registrar by the incoming Governing Council.
With the university leadership crisis behind them, Ikechukwubelu urged for unity, saying, “The entire saga has ended with no victor, no vanquished. I, therefore, solicit the cooperation of all concerned to enthrone in the University an ambient environment that would conduce to a hitch-free, rancour-free appointment.”
For the past five months, UNIZIK has faced significant unrest over leadership issues, with court cases escalating tensions. Prof. Ikechukwubelu shared that several of these cases have been addressed, thanks to the president’s intervention. As the institution looks to the future, the acting Vice Chancellor emphasized his dedication to academic advancement and societal impact, in the spirit of the university’s namesake, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, a pan-Africanist and pioneer of Nigeria’s independence.
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