Elom out, Nwachukwu in, promises to identify indigent students and pay their school fees, among others

From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki

Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State (AE-FUNAI), entered a new era in its history following the emergence of  Daniel Nwachukwu, a Professor of Cardiovascular Physiology as the Vice Chancellor.

Nwachukwu became the 4th Vice Chancellor of the university last week after his formal inauguration by the Governing Council of the institution.

At a well-attended investiture ceremony, the new helmsman articulated a forward-looking vision focused on strengthening research capacity, enhancing academic standards, and consolidating the university’s position as one of Nigeria’s rapidly emerging federal institutions.

The investiture ceremony which was attended by members of the Governing Council, the academia, politicians, captains of industry, clergy, principal officers, staff, students of the university, and other distinguished guests, underscored the university’s commitment to sustained growth and progressive governance.

Administering the oath of office to the new Vice Chancellor,  the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the institution, Dr. Anthony Nebo, enjoined him to provide visionary, transparent, and result-oriented leadership in advancing the university’s mandate.

He described the investiture as a defining moment in the institution’s history and noted that Prof. Nwachukwu’s appointment followed a rigorous and merit-based selection process conducted by the Governing Council.

Nebo urged the Vice-Chancellor to uphold the university’s statutes, protect its academic integrity, and foster excellence in teaching, research, and community service. He stressed the need for strategic innovation, sound administration, and policies that will strengthen institutional stability, staff welfare, and student success.

The Pro-Chancellor,  thereafter, invested Prof. Nwachukwu with the instruments of authority, the university law, the seal, and the academic regalia to formally empower him to lead the institution for the next five years. He further charged him to govern in accordance with the enabling laws of the university and discharge his duties with diligence, honesty, integrity, fairness, and dedication.

Nebo called on the university community to support the institution’s new administration.

In his inaugural address,  Nwachukwu described his appointment as “a call to service and collective responsibility,” pledging to reposition the 14-year-old university as a globally competitive, research-driven, and technologically responsive institution. He outlined a strategic vision anchored on innovation, integrity, inclusiveness, and measurable growth.

“We must deliberately build a university that advances and celebrates academic excellence and integrity, producing graduates whose qualifications are internationally recognized and capable of driving economic and political transformation in Nigeria, Africa, and the world,” he stated.

He emphasized the importance of strengthening interdisciplinary research, expanding industry partnerships, and enhancing the University’s visibility in global academic rankings.

He  assured staff and students of his administration’s commitment to improved welfare, infrastructure development, and a conducive learning environment.

Expressing appreciation to the Governing Council for the confidence reposed in him, the new Vice-Chancellor acknowledged the contributions of his predecessors and pledged continuity in progressive policies alongside strategic reforms aimed at accelerating sustainable development.

He assured host communities of the institution of partnership that will lift the communities, describing university as biggest catalyst for development in any community.

He  announced that he will set up indigent students committee in the university to take care of the less-privileged students and  pay their school fees.

According to him, the committee will identify those that are classified as indigent students for the payment of their school fees.

He promised to make the university an epitome of academic and intellectual excellence in Nigeria, Africa, and the world.

Nwachukwu said he will prioritize the welfare of staff and students of the university and solicited their support to take the university to another level.

He urged the students to access the federal government loan which he called their common wealth.

“I want to assure staff and students that their priorities will be given serious attention. I am going to set up student indigent committee that is going to take care of the less privileged students.

“That committee will identify those classified as indigent students and their school fees will be paid. I also want the students to know that the federal government has loan fund-NELFUND.  You have to access it, if you access it, it is your common wealth. Don’t say it is a loan, I don’t want to take a loan. Every student should access,” he said.

He opined that the university will create an app where students can pay their school fees instalmentally to make things easier for parents and students.

“The presence of a university in any community is the biggest catalyst for development and I want to assure our host communities of our tacit support in terms of security, agriculture, education, health and job opportunities. We must give them what is due to them.

“Every community is praying to God to have a university sited in their place. So, if a university is sited in your place, you see it as a very big opportunity and that will help the community to develop.

“We are going to partner with Ikwo communities to ensure that free medical services, agricultural services and other services benefit them. There will be a kind of synergy between the university and the community,” Nwachukwu stated.

One of the highlight of the ceremony was the celebration of a Mass by Rev. Fr. Augustine Ovia, the Chaplain, Holy Family Catholic Chaplaincy, AE-FUNAI, with three other priests, underscoring the solemnity of the occasion and invoking divine guidance for the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure.

A day to Nwachukwu’s inauguration, his predecessor, Professor Sunday Elom formally handed over the affairs of the university to him at a ceremony. At the event, Elom expressed gratitude to God and the university community for the opportunity to serve, reflecting on his five-year tenure which began on February 11, 2021.

He described the period as one marked by resilience, collective effort, and remarkable institutional growth despite the numerous challenges his administration encountered.

According to him, the university recorded significant achievements in academic excellence and expansion, infrastructural development, and research output. He noted that most of the academic programmes of the university now enjoy accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and relevant professional bodies, a milestone that underscored the administration’s commitment to quality assurance.

He highlighted the successful approval of the law programme by the Council for Legal Education and the final accreditation of the MBBS programme by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, noting that the pioneer law graduates of the university were already in the law school while the pioneer medical graduates are expected to be inducted and sworn in as qualified doctors in March 2026.

He further disclosed that 34 of the 35 academic programmes presented for accreditation received full approval, with one granted interim status.

Beyond academics, he revealed that AE-FUNAI experienced structural expansion with the establishment of new faculties and departments, increasing faculties from 11 to 14, departments from 41 to 54, and academic programmes from 57 to 64. Students’ population also grew from about 9,000 to over 14,000 during the period.

Elom further highlighted the improvements in ICT infrastructure which has enhanced transparency in Students’ Union Government elections, increased research output, and international recognition, including the University’s first-ever ranking by the Times Higher Education (THE), where it placed 4th in Nigeria in  Impact Ranking.

As part of a smooth transition, he stated that a comprehensive handover note containing governance, administrative, asset, and personnel records had been prepared to guide the new administration.

In his acceptance speech during the handover ceremony, Prof. Nwachukwu expressed profound appreciation to the Governing Council for what he described as an open and transparent selection process that culminated in his appointment.  He also thanked the university community for the overwhelming support received since his emergence as Vice-Chancellor.

Nwachukwu pledged to lead with integrity, empathy, and inclusiveness while fostering an environment where every voice matters. He acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed confidence that unity, creativity, and determination would enable the University to turn the challenges into opportunities.

He reaffirmed his commitment to building on the achievements of the outgoing administration, embracing innovation, and steering AE-FUNAI to greater academic and global relevance over the next five years.

Highlight of the February 11 handover event was the dedication of the university and the tenure of the new Vice Chancellor to God by fierry Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka.

Mbaka predicted glorious level for the university under Nwachukwu and described him as an achiever who is noted for his humility, amiability, amicability, transparent ingenuity and authentic relationship with people.

He expressed confidence in Nwachukwu’s leadership capacity which he said will take the school to a very higher level.

“He is a lover of youths. So, him being the Vice Chancellor, I am thanking God that he will take this noble university to another glorious level and be a blessing for the whole Nigeria. And because he is here, he is a God-fearing man and he will equally attract the presence of God for the favour of men.

“By the special grace of God, I am praying this noble institution to be in another higher level whereby the school will be so higher than eagles and navigate through every storm.

“Professor Daniel Nwachukwu is an achiever and I can say an iconic achiever, a super achiever on the seat, not just one who can suggest but an executor.

“I pray that God will use him in the next five years and bring more noble glorious achievements here and the students will be happy and the staff will be happy,” Mbaka said.

Nwachukwu’s appointment as the Vice Chancellor of the university, was announced on Saturday, 20th December, 2025 by the Governing Council of the institution, after a painstaking and transparent process that involved over 40 seasoned professors.

The Professor of Cardiovascular Physiology in the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC), was elected the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UNEC in 2023.

He had his first degree at the University of Lagos in Human Physiology in 1995 and later moved to the University of Benin for his master’s degree in 1997 and Ph.D in 2012.

Nwachukwu has had an illustrious career in the academia spanning over 26 years having joined the services of UNN as a lecturer in July 1999 and rose to the highest academic rank of a professor in 2016. He hails from Okposi in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Daily Sun gathered that Nwachukwu became the first indigene of the community to attain such position.  This actually reflected on the preponderance of delegation from the Okposi clan at the ceremony.

The traditional ruler of Okposi Okwu autonomous community, Onyibe Chuku Agwu (Odenigbo 1 of Okposi Okwu) led his cabinet chiefs, and indeed other prominent sons and daughters of the three autonomous communities that make up Okposi clan to the event.

President General of Okposi Okwu Development Union (OODU), Dr. Willy Nwachukwu, wished the new Vice-Chancellor God’s wisdom, grace, protection as he delivers on his mandate.

“We know our illustrious son; we know the stuff he’s made of. So, I have no doubt that Prof. Nwachukwu will make Okposi Ezinasato proud. Remember that he performed very well as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus,” Eze Odenigbo 1, said.

Many friends, associates and well wishers of the Nwachukwus were not left out of the momentous outing.