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Secrets Reporters
SecretsReporters has uncovered a controversial process that led to the appointment of Benard Odoh as the Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UniZik). The findings, drawn from exclusive access to internal documents, reveal that Odoh, who lacked the requisite qualifications and experience typically required for the role, secured his appointment through powerful political influences rather than merit.
Sources close to the selection committee revealed that numerous capable candidates with stellar academic and administrative records were initially shortlisted. However, despite their qualifications, they were sidelined in favor of Odoh.
Documents reviewed by SecretsReporters confirm that Odoh’s academic profile did not meet the established criteria for the position of Vice-Chancellor at UniZik, but political figures behind the scenes orchestrated his ascent to power.
A source reliably informed SecretsReporters that the imposition was done by a governor from the South East, who’s currently doing his second term in office.
According to the documents, the process began when certain influential stakeholders intervened to disrupt the usual transparent procedures. These stakeholders, with strong connections to political figures at the federal and state levels, pressured the university’s governing council to favor Odoh. As the selection process progressed, it became evident that these individuals were determined to ensure his appointment, regardless of objections from within the council. Several members of the council, who initially resisted the imposition, were reportedly coerced into compliance.
Named after Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, a legendary African nationalist and intellectual, the university bears the motto “Discipline, Self-Reliance, and Excellence,” values meant to foster high standards in academia. Yet, recent actions by the university’s Pro-Chancellor, Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe, threaten to tarnish this legacy by selecting a candidate with disputed qualifications and a controversial background, thus raising concerns among faculty and stakeholders alike.
In the rigorous selection process for Vice-Chancellors across Nigerian universities, candidates must meet strict criteria that involve both academic and administrative qualifications. According to UniZik’s charter and the National Universities Commission (NUC) guidelines, prospective Vice-Chancellors are required to possess a minimum of 15 years in teaching and research experience in a university setting; at least 10 years in senior academic positions, ideally as a Professor; documented experience in administrative positions, such as Department Head, Dean, or equivalent; a proven record of published research in reputable academic journals, with a minimum of 40 publications in the past five years; and a history of integrity and service, as verified by recommendations from prior employers or professional organizations.
According to the Higher Education (Basic) Law of Nigeria (2004), the governing council is required to appoint an independent selection panel that evaluates each candidate based on academic merit, administrative experience, and personal integrity. This process ensures the decision remains impartial and aligns with legal standards.
However, on October 29, 2024, Ambassador Mbadiwe appointed Dr. Odoh as Vice-Chancellor amid allegations of non-compliance with eligibility requirements, a move some critics argue was strategically orchestrated. Dr. Odoh, who completed his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. in Geological Sciences at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, has drawn scrutiny over his academic trajectory. His Ph.D., obtained in just two years between 2006 and 2008, has raised red flags, given that the program typically spans six semesters. At the time, he was also a full-time lecturer at Ebonyi State University, creating doubts about how he managed such an accelerated academic schedule.
The controversies surrounding Dr. Odoh extend beyond his rapid academic climb. Since joining Nnamdi Azikiwe University in 2009 as a Lecturer I, he quickly ascended to Senior Lecturer status in 2012. In 2015, he was appointed as the Secretary to the Ebonyi State Government, taking a leave of absence. However, during this time, Dr. Odoh reportedly began using the title “Professor,” despite his actual rank of Senior Lecturer. He even contested for political positions in Ebonyi State, in 2019 as a gubernatorial candidate for APC and in 2023 under APGA, further highlighting the apparent overlap of his academic and political pursuits.
The Nigerian Constitution has provisions regarding public servants and their eligibility to participate in elections. According to Section 66(1)(f) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), individuals who work in public service are generally required to resign at least 30 days before the election if they wish to contest. This includes federal government employees, such as lecturers in federal institutions. Consequently, Dr. Benard Odoh’s continued advancement within the University while simultaneously campaigning for elective positions raises concerns and can only be clarified by the former Vice Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone.
According to university records, Dr. Odoh currently holds the rank of Reader, as evidenced by his IPPIS salary payment slip from August 2024. However, despite official records, he continues to present himself as a Professor in external communications and his CV, where he claims to have served as a Visiting Professor and department head at Federal University, Gusau, from 2015 to 2017. This claim was directly refuted by the Registrar of Federal University, Gusau, who stated that Dr. Odoh was neither employed there nor held the role of department head.
Some of the university’s heads expressed frustration over the lack of transparency in Dr. Odoh’s rapid promotions, which they argue contradict the required procedures for academic advancement. According to the 2012 amendment of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions), a Search Team should have been formed to identify qualified Vice-Chancellor candidates who might not have applied on their own. Instead, Ambassador Mbadiwe reportedly bypassed these procedures, filling the Search Team and other key roles with allies of his preferred candidate, undermining the internal representation from the university’s Senate and Congregation.
The controversy reached its peak during the selection process for Vice-Chancellor, where all 18 applicants, regardless of eligibility, were invited for an interview hastily scheduled to preempt the transition to a new Minister of Education on October 31. To avoid scrutiny, the venue was moved from the university’s Council chambers to a hotel. Notably, some applicants were over the specified age limit, and standard security vetting was omitted, casting further doubt on the integrity of the process.
In its findings, Secrets Reporters uncovered significant procedural irregularities in the appointment of Odoh, specifically regarding the composition of the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board. As mandated by Paragraph 4(3) of the First Schedule of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Act, the Selection Board should consist of the Pro-Chancellor as Chairman, two Council members (not affiliated with the Senate), and two Senate members who are professors and were not on the search team. However, the report suggests that these requirements were bypassed, calling into question the legality of the selection process and the subsequent appointment.
On October 16, 2024, the University Senate expressed strong objections during its 227th meeting, formally resolving to disengage from any further involvement in the Vice Chancellor selection until these procedural issues were addressed. The Senate’s decision was based on concerns over an advertisement published on September 12, 2024, in the Vanguard Newspaper, which failed to involve the properly constituted Senate Governing Council, and did not meet the stipulated requirements. Due to these and other legal infractions, Plaintiffs have filed a suit seeking the court’s intervention to annul the process and enforce statutory adherence in future selections.
SecretsReporters also obtained documents showing that some court processes were defied in the appointment of the VC.
Ambassador Mbadiwe’s alleged misconduct has led to widespread resentment among the university community, who view his actions as a politically motivated settlement for Dr. Odoh’s past ambitions in Ebonyi State. The sentiment, shared by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and university Senate, is that Nnamdi Azikiwe University deserves a Vice-Chancellor chosen through a fair, merit-based process, free from political manipulation. Critics argue that an academic institution cannot flourish under a leader whose credentials and character are in question, especially when its foundational values are “Discipline, Self-Reliance, and Excellence.”
As the situation unfolds, the legitimacy of Odoh’s leadership remains a point of contention. The academic community and students alike are left grappling with the ramifications of an appointment tainted by political favoritism rather than a commitment to educational standards and institutional integrity. This revelation serves as a stark reminder of the growing influence of politics in Nigeria’s higher education sector, posing challenges to the autonomy and credibility of academic institutions across the country.
