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By John Ogunsemore
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has promised just action on the report of the fact-finding committee tasked with reviewing the process that produced Professor Stella Ngozi Lemchi as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education (AIFUE), Owerri, Imo State.
The minister made this known upon receiving the report of the committee, Director of Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Folasade Boriowo said in a Tuesday statement sent to Daily Sun.
Alausa commended the fact-finding committee for its objective and timely report, assuring that the ministry would act in the best interest of the university community and the Nigerian education system at large.
The five-member committee inaugurated on June 26, 2025, was tasked with reviewing the selection process, assessing the legitimacy of the petitions received, and advising the ministry on the appropriate course of action.
The statement reads, “According to the Committee’s findings, due process was strictly followed in the appointment of Professor Lemchi, who scored the highest among all candidates.
“Her Professorship was confirmed to be valid, and the petitions against her were found to be misleading, biased, and without merit—a position strongly supported by the four staff unions within the university.
“The Committee also noted that the Ministry’s earlier decision to appoint an Acting Vice-Chancellor was made in response to the overwhelming volume of petitions, which, upon review, lacked factual substance.
“As a result, the Committee unanimously recommended that Professor Stella Ngozi Lemchi be reinstated to her position as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of AIFUE, in line with the principles of justice and fairness.”
The statement quoted the minister as reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to transparency, rule of law, and protection of due process in leadership appointments across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
