The youth wing of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide has commended Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo on his recent appointment of the Governing Council for the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, COOU in the state.
Last week, the governor announced the appointment of the Council members, with renowned rights advocate, Professor Chidi Odinkalu as the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman and other members including the wife of late Biafran warlord, Ambassador Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Chief Mrs. Ifeoma Ekwueme.
Other members of the Council, set up to provide guidance and oversight for the continued growth and development of the state-owned university, were the traditional ruler of Omor, Igwe Chris Oranu Chidume, and Chief Christopher Ndubuisi.
Reacting to the appointment on Saturday, the acting National Youth Leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu observed that the governor’s appointment of members of the Council was truly done with focus, excellence, and strategic leadership.
According to him, the composition of the Council, will no doubt, yield a pragmatic template for the overall transformation of the university, in line with the vision of the state government.
“Prof. Chidi Odinkalu and Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu were the Chairman and Secretary of the Truth Justice and Peace Commission respectively, where I was also a member. In this commission, the duo discharged themselves creditably, providing for the state government and the entire Southeast, a working document that will aid enthrone of peace and justice in the society.
“On the other, HRH Igwe Oranu, Eze Igwulube Omor, and other members of the Council are people of notable character and as the leader of Igbo Youths, I must join Igbo Youths Worldwide to celebrate this development, as we have implicit confidence that they will surely impart new and extraordinary reforms that will beget us a world-class learning environment at the Heartbeat of the East.
“So, we commend Mr Governor, Prof. Soludo for living up to expectations and reaffirm the unwavering solidarity and support of the Igbo Youths for a livable and prosperous homeland,” he said.
Okpalaezeukwu also posited that the constitution of the Council shows that the governor is in tune with what is going on in the nation’s education sector and taking proactive steps to remedy the situation.
“The absence of governing councils in most universities across the country, both Federal and State, has been a source of great concern to critical stakeholders like us. The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU has consistently raised concerns over how Vice Chancellors have made themselves demi-gods due to the failure to set up these councils.
“Some of these Vice Chancellors may begin to make arbitrary decisions and impose fees that may inhibit the education of our youths and this is where we are concerned.
“Governor Soludo has by this appointment, etched Anambra’s name in the list of states compliant with the 21st century demands in university administration and we can only be better for it,” he concluded.
