UNN Alumni Warn Against Politicizing VC Appointment.

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Alumni of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), are urging the institution’s governing council to adhere to the traditional transition timetable in appointing a new vice chancellor. This call is aimed at preventing political interference that could disrupt the university’s stability.

Prof. Barnabas Iliya, representing concerned northern alumni, emphasized the importance of following laid-down procedures to ensure a seamless and crisis-free transition. He noted that the name of the successful candidate should emerge by February 17, with the transition process concluding in June 2025.

Iliya drew attention to past disruptions in similar appointments at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and Yakubu Gowon University, warning that political meddling undermines academic excellence. “The interference of political actors in university governance undermines academic excellence,” he said.

The alumni appealed to the Federal Ministry of Education to collaborate with UNN’s Governing Council to preserve the university’s academic integrity. Iliya stressed that the university’s chequered history makes it imperative to proceed with utmost decorum and attention to laid-down procedures.

He also observed that recent events in Awka and Abuja suggest that politicians are interfering with university governance for reasons that do not align with academic excellence and nation-building. Iliya urged the Federal Ministry of Education to synergize with the university’s governing council to stick to plans and processes leading to the appointment of a substantive Vice-Chancellor.

The alumni expressed concerns about the negative impacts of allowing hurried transitions in UNN, recalling how a similar approach was adopted shortly after the end of the civil war. Iliya emphasized the need for a substantial overhaul of the administrative systems in federal universities to conform with current realities.

“We believe that the time has come for a substantial overhaul of the administrative systems in federal universities to conform with current realities,” he said. “Governance of the citadels of learning should be insulated from the interference of partisan political actors. They should proceed with caution to achieve a crisis-free transition.”

“Governance of the citadels of learning should be insulated from the interference of partisan political actors. They should proceed with caution to achieve a crisis-free transition.”

Prof. Iliya further stated, “The transition process begins in March, culminating in the actual handover around June; that is a four-month period of seamless transition that would equip the new VC with first-hand knowledge of challenges, prospects, and plans of the institution.”

He also expressed concerns about the recent events in Awka and Abuja, saying, “The recent events in Awka and Abuja give the impression that politicians have descended on the ivory tower for reasons that do not align with academic excellence and nation-building.”

Iliya appealed to the authorities to spare UNN from the ongoing crises of recruitment of vice chancellors, saying, “Pleading that UNN should be spared the ongoing crises of recruitment of vice chancellors, we urge the Federal Ministry of Education to synergize with the university’s governing council to stick to plans and processes leading to the appointment of a substantive vice chancellor who will take over in June 2025.”

He also drew attention to the controversy surrounding the appointment of chairmen of governing councils of tertiary institutions, saying, “We also make this plea based on our findings that the appointment of chairmen of governing councils of tertiary institutions was mired in controversies, which led Mr. President to cancel the initial list and order fresh nominations.”

Iliya concluded by saying, “It is, therefore, appropriate to conclude that the interest of highly placed politicians has been at the root of the unusual squabbling in the appointment of university vice chancellors. In order, therefore, to ensure that sanity and the finest tradition of academic excellence are observed in the appointment of a substantive VC for our alma mater, the process should proceed according to extant tradition.”

The alumni’s call for a crisis-free transition and adherence to laid-down procedures is aimed at ensuring that the university’s academic integrity and stability are maintained.

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