By Okey Maduforo Awka .
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra state on Thursday took a swipe on the immediate past Governing Council of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Igbariam describing it’s dormancy as inexplicable.
To this end Soludo at the Light House Awka inaugurated a new set of Governing Council for the institution charging them to be alive to their responsibilities.
“You have a lot of heavy lifting to do,” the Governor stated. “I am confident that with the new leadership of the Council, you will provide nothing short of excellence. Work with the greatest level of integrity, conscientiousness, and passion.
Consider what is best for the university and the generations unborn; we are all birds of passage. What is important is, while you serve, what changed for the better? That is your guiding principle.”
Governor Soludo did not shy away from addressing the systemic challenges that necessitated this transition, noting that the preceding council had remained dormant for reasons he deemed “inexplicable.”
He expressed particular concern regarding the integrity of recent academic recruitment processes. “I got the full report. I had to do my own due diligence.
The Governor expressed full confidence in the new leadership to reverse these trends, stating, “With Professor Peter Onwualu as your Chairman and Pro-Chancellor, your problems are solved. Just get going. Take the university to realize its manifest potential. With the calibre of men and women of such knowledge, expertise, and ‘fire in the belly,’ you will succeed.”
Responding on behalf of the newly inaugurated body, Professor Onwualu affirmed the Council’s commitment to transformation. “This will be a different Council,” he assured.
“We intend to make COOU one of the top three state universities in the country. The problem of weak institutions is a Nigerian problem, but we will make COOU a very strong university. We covet the Governor’s support to make this happen.”he noted .
