Insists Embattled Nnamdi Azikiwe University VC Never Taught Any Course Amid Leadership Controversy
The Federal University Gusau in Zamfara State has denied claims that Bernard Odoh, the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, was awarded professorship or had any academic ties with the institution.
This clarification comes after claims circulated that Odoh became a professor at Federal University Gusau around 2015.
However, the university has confirmed that Odoh never served as a staff member or pioneer Head of the Department of Geology, nor did he teach any courses.
The Federal Ministry of Education has also weighed in on the controversy surrounding Odoh’s appointment as Vice-Chancellor, nullifying it due to non-compliance with established procedures.
The ministry emphasized that the appointment was made without reconciling with aggrieved parties within the university community, contrary to earlier agreements.
The declaration made by the Federal University Gusau followed an inquiry made by Kingsley Awuka Esq, Principal Partner at Awuka, Okafor & Partners.
SaharaReporters had reported that the Federal University Gusau in its reply to the lawyer dated October 28, 2024, and titled ‘RE: Request For Disclosure Of The Academic Status Of Dr. Ifeanyi Bernard Odoh Of The Department Applied Geophysics, Federal University Of Gusau, Pursuant To Sections 1(1) (2); And 2 (3) (D) (VI) Of The Freedom Of Information Act, Laws Of The Federation 2011,’ stated that it had no record of Odoh ever being a staff member of the institution.
However, in ‘Notice Of Corrigendum,’ dated November 6, 2024 with Ref: FUGUS/RO/24, and addressed to Kingsley Awuka Esq, the institution maintained that Dr. Ifeanyi Bernard Odoh was never a staff member or a pioneer Head of Department of Geology in the Federal University Gusau.
“He has never shown up in the Department nor taught any course(s),” the letter reads.
Signed by Mal. Shehu Suleiman, Senior Staff Officer for Registrar, Yakubu A. Anivbassa, the letter obtained on by SaharaReporters on Friday reads: “Further to our correspondence of 28th October, 2024 on Dr. Ifeanyi Bernard Odoh which reads thus.
“I write on behalf of the Registrar to acknowledge your correspondence dated 4th October, 2024 on the above subject”.
“Our records show that Dr. Ifeanyi Bernard Odoh never a staff nor a pioneer Head of the Department of Geology. Never shown up in the Department or though any course (s)”.
“Please be informed that what we intended to state in the correspondence, was that Dr. Ifeanyi Bernard Odoh was never a staff nor a pioneer Head of Department of Geology in Federal University Gusau.
“He has never shown up in the Department nor taught any course(s). So what we meant was “taught” and not “Though” as wrongly spelt in the earlier correspondence. We sincerely apologize for the errors.”
SaharaReporters reported on Sunday that the Federal Ministry of Education had declared as null and void the recent appointment of Odoh as the Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State.
The Governing Council of the University on October 29 appointed Odoh as the school’s 7th substantive vice-chancellor.
Odoh on Tuesday assumed the five years tenure of his Vice Chancellorship of the NAU despite the protest and outrage over his appointment.
Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Nnamdi Azikiwe University chapter had gone to court to challenge the process that led to his appointment.
In a letter addressed to the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council by Mrs. R. G. Ilyasu for the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, and dated November 1, the education ministry said it had been agreed that there would be no appointments without reconciliation with the aggrieved parties of the school.
The letter read, “Sequel to your meeting with the Honourable Minister of State for Education, (HMSE) held on Friday, 25th October, 2024, it was formally agreed that no appointments should be carried out by your Council without reconciling with the aggrieved parties in the University Community.
“It has come to the attention of the Ministry that your Council had gone ahead to appoint a Vice Chancellor for the University without the Representative of the Ministry, the internal council members and other Stakeholders on Tuesday, 29th October, 2024. This is a gross disregard to constituted Authority and is not in line with Extant provisions.”
“Against this backdrop: I am directed to inform you that all appointments made so far are null and void. You are therefore requested put on hold all other appointments in the University pending the assumption on duty of the new Honourable Minister of Education,” it added.
The letter was copied to the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission.
Recently, sources told SaharaReporters that Odoh was being positioned for the role of vice-chancellor by influential politicians within the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite not meeting the necessary qualifications for the position.
A document obtained by SaharaReporters revealed that Odoh, who was promoted to Associate Professor (Reader) in 2022, had reportedly never held critical administrative roles such as Head of Department, Dean, or Director.
Furthermore, he had not reportedly supervised any PhD candidates, leading many to question his suitability for the vice-chancellorship position.
Odoh was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in 2023 and served as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Ebonyi State from 2015 to 2018.
Sources at the university told SaharaReporters that ideally and in accordance with university rules and regulations, candidates for the position of vice-chancellor must have spent at least 10 years as a full professor.
One of the sources said, “Sadly and typical with corrupt practices, there are said to be unholy plans to foist Dr Ben Ifeanyi Odoh, currently a Reader in the Department of Applied Geophysics in UNIZIK who is presently not qualified to become a full professor as at the time.”
The source noted that Odoh was not qualified to even apply for the position of vice-chancellor with his salary grade let alone his rank.
Sources also knocked the argument by some people that Odoh was made a visiting professor to Federal University Gusau around 2014 or 2015, and that it qualified him as a professor.
“However, all the information available to us, even as recent as last month, shows that he is still an associate professor. He was promoted to associate professor (which is equivalent to a reader) in 2022.
“If you go to the university website, you will see that something mischievous is going on. They listed his name as Professor Bernard Odoh, but also noted that he is a reader in the Department of Geophysics.
“Even the salary he collects is that of a reader, as at now. Yet, we have heard that plans have been finalized to make him the vice-chancellor, regardless of the circumstances,” one of the sources said.