UNN Vice Chancellorship: The Domestication of an International University

By Jim Isilebo

Since inception over 65 years ago, the University of Nigeria has remained a National University with an international outlook in both staffing and student population.

The Vice Chancellor position has thus been occupied by foreigners and people from both northern and southern parts of the country.  Over the last 30 years, however, the position has drifted to people from only the South Eastern states with Abia, Anambra, and Enugu states indigenes. Most recently, Enugu state has mounted campaigns to permanently retain the position of the Vice Chancellor with arguments to rotate the posts within Local Governments in Enugu state.

The domestication of the leadership of the University can be linked to recent decline in both National and International ratings with UNN no longer in the league of 10 best universities in Nigeria.

As at now,  almost every leadership position is now occupied by people from Enugu state.  In the 15 member Council Governing the University, the Acting VC, DVC, Registrar, as well as 4 other members are all from Enugu. The rest are persons from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Ekiti states.

In fact, there is no member either elected or nominated that is from Imo State. It is also worthy of note that both Imo and Ebonyi states have been marginalized in the VC position of UNN since inception. However, Ebonyi currently has a DVC and an elected member in the council.

The attempt to domesticate a once National Educational Pride to a local university should be resisted by the federal government. It is very pertinent to point out that a situation where the Ag VC, DVC, Registrar, Bursar and Librarian of the University come from one State (Enugu) completely negates the Federal Character Policy of the FRN.

The Visitor of this federal University still remains the President  and we implore him to use his good office to resist the attempt by the Governor of the state in cohort with other past Governors to foist a VC based on sentiments. A National University like UNN should enjoy robust engagement in selecting leadership to drive desired educational realignment of present Federal Government. .