From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Commendations and applause have trailed the appointment of Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha as the Acting Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) formerly Anambra State University.
Governor Soludo through a statement by his press secretary, Christian Aburime on Wednesday morning appointed Omenugha as the Acting Vice chancellor of COOU to take over from the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Prof. Greg Nwakoby who exits office on Friday.
At the Igbariam campus of the university, staff and students were in high spirits and excited over the announcement when the reporter visited the place on Wednesday afternoon.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the University, Dr Harrison Madubueze who spoke to our reporter on the new development said the university community welcomed the appointment with happiness and joy.
He said the outgoing Vice Chancellor , Prof. Nwakoby has done a lot to lift the university in the last five years and has automatically prepared the ground for another goal getter to take over and continue from where he stopped.
“The Governor visited the university on Friday 17th November 2023 where he commended the outgoing vice chancellor for a job well done and also assured him that everything is in place for a new person to emerge. This morning we received the news of the appointment of a new vice chancellor and we are in high spirits.We are happy that for the first time in history, we are going to have a female vice chancellor whom we believe has the capacity to take the university to a higher level from where Prof Nwakoby left it.
“Prof. Kate Omenugha is somebody I know very well and I have no doubt in her ability to collaboratively carry people along to ensure that the university moves forward from its present enviable height. We are excited and looking forward to receiving her formally in the university” the PRO stated.
Chairman of of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Anambra State Chapter, Prof. Angela Nwamuo in a reaction described the appointment as well deserving.
“I’m very confident that she is going to work assiduously in the development and upliftment of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University . We believe in her and in her capacity and things she has done as Commissioner for Education still speaks for her. We believe she is going to replicate such and do even more. I’m so happy that Anambra NIPR has produced an Acting Vice Chancellor and it is happening in my tenure.” She said.
The newly appointed acting vice chancellor, Prof Kate Azuka Omenugha is the second female Professor of Mass Communication in Nigeria and a Professor in the Department Mass communication, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
She is the Immediate Past Commissioner for Education/ Basic Education in Anambra State for Eight consecutive years (2014 – 2022). Within those years, she brought phenomenal changes in the Education sector of the State.
Prof Omenugha sits in the board of high profile academic journals and reputable professional bodies and recently was elected member of the Governing Council of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). She is also a fellow of the Institute.
Prof Omenugha studied in Nigeria and the United Kingdom clinching diverse degrees in English, Religion, Education, Communication, Gender and Cultural Studies. She is also an alumna of Harvard Kennedy School, Boston, United States.
Prof Omenugha is an inspirational speaker and an itinerant scholar who has travelled to over twenty five countries of the world on various speaking engagements. She is known for her passion, commitment, integrity in all her public assignments.