NIGERIAN NOTCH

A senior lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Dr. Chukwudi Ojiakor, has petitioned the Senate, alleging gross violation of the process for the appointment of Vice Chancellor (VC) and imposition of an unqualified person as VC. According to Dr. Ojiakor, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Amb. Greg Mbadiwe, single-handedly directed the placement of advertorials for the vacant position of VC and Registrar without the convocation of full council membership. The advertorial, published in Vanguard newspapers on September 12, 2024, contained discriminatory items and excluded a significant section of the university, violating the guidelines set out in the University Miscellaneous Act of 1993 amended in 2003. Dr. Ojiakor alleged that despite efforts by stakeholders, including the former Minister of State for Education, Dr. Sununu, Amb. Mbadiwe announced Dr. Benard Odoh as the new VC in a "dictatorial and scandalous manner." The petiti...

In a developing controversy within Nigeria's academic sphere, two organizations have come forward to defend Professor Bernard Odoh against allegations made by the Federal University Gusau (FUG) regarding his employment and professorial status. Both YOHESOR-NGO and the Concerned Members of Academia (CMA) Southeast have issued strong statements supporting Professor Odoh's legitimacy and calling for an investigation into the matter. YOHESOR, a youth-focused NGO, released detailed findings from what they describe as a "thorough independent investigation" that supports Professor Odoh's legitimate appointment and subsequent activities at the university. According to their statement dated November 22, 2024, they have uncovered "irrefutable evidence and documents" confirming the legitimacy of Odoh's appointment, promotion, and academic activities. The NGO outlined four key points defending Professor Odoh's position: his lawful employment in t...

....As Soludo, Obi,Nigige, Ekwuneife, Moghalu eulogize Ubah The remains of late Senator Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah was on Friday, November 22, 2024, committed to mother earth at his Umuanuka-Otolo, Nnewi country home. The funeral ceremony was attended by dignitaries, including the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, former Governors of Anambra State, Sen. Chris Nigige, Mr. Peter Obi.  Governor Soludo described Senator Ubah's death as the "fall of an iroko," and consoled his family, kinsmen, and the entire Igbo people. He emphasized that the greatest tribute to pay Senator Ubah is to live out the true essence of his life. Former Governor, Sen. Chris Nigige, said that " Ifeanyi Ubah's death it's indeed a great loss to the nation, as he was a very active member of the Nigerian Senate,his exit has indeed created a Vacuum." He condoled with the family, and asked that God give them the fortitude to bear the loss.  Former Governor ...

RAYMOND OZOJI reports His Royal Highness Igwe Gerald Obunadike Mbamalu Ezeoranyelu Eze Ojoto (III), the traditional ruler of Ojoto community in Idemili-South Local Government Area of Anambra State, has declared that there is no crisis or civil unrest whatsoever in his community.  Mbamalu who spoke to HEADLINE NEWS exclusively concerning  orchestrated attempts by a certain Chief Dennis Okafor who attempted to crown himself Igwe Ojoto in an uncompleted building as against government directives, said as the Chief Security Officer of Ojoto community, he could categorically say that Ojoto is calm and peaceful and everyone in the community is going about their lawful businesses contrary to fake online news reports of imaginary crisis in the community.  Igwe Mbamalu further disclosed that the claim by sponsored bloggers that a certain DSS report on Anambra traditional stool saga was missing from the Government House was nothing but a mirage as no such documents exist...

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has given an assurance that the Senate will participate fully in the burial of former President of the Senate, Dr Joseph Wayas. Akpabio gave the assurance when a delegation of leaders from Cross River State, led by former Justice Minister, Chief Kanu Agabi, paid him a courtesy visit to formally invite the Senate to be part of the burial. Akpabio told his guests that the Senate would be "part and parcel of all the ceremonies" describing it as "a celebration of life." "We will be very delighted, as the 10th Senate, to be part of it. We have planned to be part of it. Infact, we plan to hold a valedictory session for him on the 28th of November, 2024 and thereafter, we will follow you to Calabar for the Night of Tributes. "We will want to take part fully in the ceremonies. Your coming is almost like an icing on the cake. It's like showing respect to the institution of the National Assembly. We don't...

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called for more collaboration between the Nigerian Parliament and its counterpart in China. Akpabio made the call while receiving the new Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, and top officials of the Embassy, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office on Wednesday. The Senate President said Nigeria intended to take full advantage of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to China and the Forum on China/Africa Cooperation held in September. Akpabio told the Ambassador: “We want to urge you to continue in that line of helping to improve diplomatic relations and trade relations between Nigeria

..... Calls for the immediate arrest of Dr Odoh for forgery A senior lecturer and consultant anesthesiologist at the Nnamdi Azikikwe University, Awka, Dr Chukwudi Ojiakor, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sacking the governing council of Nnamdi Azikikwe University,Awka, and also for the swift sack of the impostor Vice Chancellor Dr Benard Odoh.  Dr. Chukwudi Ojiakor's commendation of President Tinubu for dissolving the UNIZIK governing council is in response to the controversy surrounding the council's actions, particularly the appointment of Professor Benard Odoh as the university's seventh substantive vice-chancellor, which has been discovered to be flawed abinito.  In an exclusive interview on zoom, Dr Ojiakor said that it was an insult to the university community for such to have happened in the first instance and if allowed to continue, would have been a bad precedence for posterity sake.  He said " it's unfortunate that this was allow...

The Federal Ministry of Education has taken drastic measures to address the ongoing crisis at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State. The governing council has been dissolved due to "grave breaches of the laws governing the university" and disregard for directives from the Education Ministry. In a press release made available to our correspondent by the director of press and public relations in the federal ministry of education reads thus "The Federal government has announced the dissolution of the governing council of Nnamdi Azikwe University Awka, Anambra state, following the grave breaches of the laws governing the university and disregard for lawful directives from the federal ministry of Education." The release went further to state that "The decision comes after it found that the chairman of the governing council unilaterally appointed a Vice Chancellor who did not meet the minimum eligibility criteria for the position. This led to a breakdown o...

The Anambra State Government has established a 13-man committee to investigate the lingering crisis in Ogwuaniocha, Ogbaru Local Government Area, which resulted in loss of lives and property destruction. Chaired by retired Justice C.K. Anigbogu, the panel aims to identify the crisis' root causes, consequences, and implications to find lasting remedies. The committee seeks to present an unbiased account of the situation, commending the community's cooperation and honest responses. Justice Anigbogu encouraged community members to bare their minds, allowing the committee to assess the situation and make informed suggestions to the State Government. Justice Anigbogu while addressing the committee members urged the community to maintain peace, avoid provocative language, and unite to protect their natural resources. Monsignor Theophilus Odukwe and Igwe Victor Awogu, traditional ruler of Osomala, also advised the community to embrace peace for unity and develo...

Harriet Uzochukwu A group of academics from Imo State under the auspices of the Imo League of Intellectuals has distended themselves from the actions of the Pro-chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe, as a result of what they described as an "attempt at contaminating the academia with roguish political culture that he is notorious for". Speaking to journalists in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the spokesman of the group, Dr. Chikamnayo Uwakwe expressed regrets that Greg Mbadiwe has ridiculed the reputation of Imo State as one of the most educationally advanced States in the country through his shoddy handling of the appointments of a Registrar and Vice-Chancellor for renowned Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. "The Imo League of Intellectuals wishes to put it on record that Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe does not represent the true character and intellectualism of the average Imo person. Imo's enviable position as one of the most educ...

Uzoma Dike Finally, Dr. Bernard Odoh has made public, some documents which he purports to confirm him as a substantive professor of Geo-physics, appointed by the Federal University Gusau, in Zamfara State. It is obvious that Dr. Odoh, an APC chieftain bent on using Nnamdi Azikiwe University as a political theatre to execute the bidding of his Party and paymasters, is dangerously smart, but, as common with people of his character, they always fall short taking adequate note of details, especially, in forging their documents. The documents provided by Dr. Bernard Odoh in an attempt to substantiate his professorship, has, instead of exonerating him, further proven that he is an impostor who has succeeded in hiring some accomplices to help him in his odious odyssey in academic fraud. The following observations about the published documents will prove or disprove the authenticity or otherwise of Dr. Odoh's claim to professorship; 1. The individuals who claimed to have assess...

The Senate on Tuesday, November 19, dedicated its plenary session to honour the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who represented Anambra South in the National Assembly. Senator  Ubah died on July 26, 2024. The casket bearing the remains of the senator lay in state at the foyer of the White House wing, directly in front of the Senate Chamber on Tuesday. Ubah’s seat in the chamber was adorned with flowers and draped in a cloth painted in the colours of the Nigerian flag. In a show of respect, Senate President Godswill Akpabio donned traditional Isi-Enyi attire, paired with a matching red cap and dark sunglasses. Similarly, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele wore Isi-Agwu attire. The session was open to non-senators, allowing dignitaries and other guests to pay their respects. Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Anambra State Governor Chris Ngige, and former Anambra Central Senator Uche Ekwunife were among those in attendance. The wife and children of the late politician as well ...

Renowned medical practitioner and President of Nigeria Doctor's Forum South Africa, Dr. Emeka Ugwu, has been honored with a chieftaincy title for his outstanding contributions to the welfare and development of his hometown, Ovoko Agu. The conferment took place on November 16th, 2024, at the Ist Ofala Festival of Igwe Nnadi, where Dr. Ugwu received the esteemed title of "Ikemba," meaning "The strength of the people." Dr. Ugwu took the opportunity to launch the Ikemba Education Foundation, aimed at ensuring that no indigene of Ovoko Agu is denied university education. This initiative underscores Dr. Ugwu's commitment to empowering his community through education. He commended the efforts of his in - laws who came all the way from South Africa to join him in the honor that was accorded him by the traditional ruler of Ovoko Agu.   The chieftaincy title is a testament to Dr. Ugwu's dedication to the betterment of his community, and his foundation's missio...

The 2024 Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and memorial lecture, organized by the Society of Young Nigerian Writers in collaboration with the Anambra State Library Board, has sparked calls for enhanced writing and reading skills among secondary school students . Held at the Dike Library on November 16th, the event drew scholars, traditional rulers, renowned writers, and students from various schools. Comrade Izunna Okafor, the convener and a respected Anambra journalist, will interacting with newsmen after the event  highlighted the importance of commemorating Chinua Achebe's legacy, a project he has continuously done for over 8 years now. He said "We gather every November 16th to celebrate and immortalize him, which we've done for eight years, until Governor Soludo named the Anambra International Airport after him." The Chief of Staff to Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, Hon Ernest Nnaama Ezeajughi, in his keynote address stressed that education is key to success, citi...