UNIZIK Names New Vice Chancellor

• Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) has named Prof. Bond Anyaechie as its substantive Vice Chancellor, bringing an end to over a year of leadership uncertainty following the controversial removal of his predecessor

The Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has officially appointed Prof. Bond Anyaechie as its substantive Vice Chancellor, concluding a year-long leadership deadlock triggered by the removal of Prof. Bernard Odoh.

The announcement was made on Sunday by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Olugbenga Kukoyi, during a press briefing in Abuja. Kukoyi emphasized that the selection process was “thorough and transparent,” and adhered to due process at every stage.

Odoh’s earlier appointment had been reversed by President Bola Tinubu amid allegations of irregularities and questions about his academic credentials. The decision sparked strong reactions from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the university’s Medical and Dental Consultants Association, who condemned the reversal as “irregular” and prejudicial.

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Prof. Bond Anyaechie is a distinguished scholar in Medical Physiology and Clinical Measurement with nearly two decades of academic and administrative experience. He earned his MBBS from Abia State University in 1998, followed by a master’s in 2004, a PhD in 2009, and a Master of Public Health in 2011.

Anyaechie began his academic career in 2002 as a part-time lecturer at Imo State University’s College of Medicine and secured a full-time position soon after. In 2007, he joined the College of Medicine at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, attaining the rank of Professor in 2013. He also served as Deputy Provost of the College of Medicine at the University of Nigeria from 2018 to 2022, and acted as Provost at Imo State University’s College of Medicine, in addition to holding visiting professorships between 2020 and 2022.

His appointment is widely expected to restore stability and provide renewed academic direction for UNIZIK after months of uncertainty.