By Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Jaja
When on February 7, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Professor Oguejiofo T. Ujam as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, it was clear that the institution was being offered a rare opportunity for renewal. What lay ahead was not just the task of filling a vacancy, but the challenge of revitalizing Nigeria’s premier university and restoring its dwindling glory.
On February 14, Prof. Ujam officially took over the reins from Prof. Polycarp Chigbu. In just two months, the Acting Vice Chancellor has exemplified what is possible through visionary leadership, inclusive governance, and a sense of urgency grounded in strategic actions.
The tone was set at his very first Senate meeting, where he delivered a candid and reflective address: “Memorably, this is about the first time that our university produced three Vice Chancellors in acting capacity within a year. And I feel that it does not require rocket science to note that the institution has greatly retreated from its leading position as Nigeria’s premier university.”
He went further to remind the university’s leadership of their collective obligation: “Let us purge the school system of tiny cleavages, sectional considerations and narrow-mindedness that have contributed in eroding the enabling condition for research, comparative studies and adaptive application of new knowledge.”
Prof. Ujam’s response to this internal fragmentation has not just been rhetorical. In one bold stroke of fairness and professionalism, he appointed the first-ever Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor from Yoruba ethnic stock in the university’s history, in the person of Professor Kamoru Olayiwola Usman.
That gesture was a clear indicator of Prof. Ujam’s desire to heal long-standing divides and re-establish UNN as a truly national and inclusive academic community.
This same sense of equity has continued to reflect in his appointments and interactions with various segments of the university. He has been described by many as professional, fair, and consultative, building consensus and maintaining administrative focus in a complex environment.
The challenges he met were enormous: dilapidated infrastructure, low staff morale, student disenchantment, and poor environmental conditions. But instead of lamenting, Prof. Ujam rolled up his sleeves and got to work.
In the area of infrastructure, he prioritized the rehabilitation of internal roads and student hostels. Although the physical works have not yet commenced, the planning stages have reached advanced levels, including needs assessments, contractor prequalification, and resource mapping.
A phased 20km internal road rehabilitation plan across the Nsukka and Enugu campuses is ready for launch, alongside a comprehensive hostel upgrade programme and the installation of solar-powered street lighting to improve night-time visibility and campus safety.
On sanitation, his immediate declaration of a “State of Emergency” on campus cleanliness has already yielded visible results. A coordinated Environmental Task Force Committee has mobilized staff, students, and sanitation contractors, leading to weekly clean-up campaigns, clearing of refuse points, and a renewed sense of pride in the campus environment.
This campaign, which is being driven in part by the Environmental Task Force Committee chaired by Dr. Nnaemeka Ogbene, has re-energized student participation, improved waste disposal systems, and attracted private sector interest for sustainable campus sanitation solutions.
In terms of digital transformation, Prof. Ujam has moved decisively to integrate technology into governance and security planning. Although CCTV cameras have not yet been installed, plans are at advanced stages to procure and strategically deploy them for enhanced surveillance across campuses. Likewise, fire safety infrastructure, digitization of health facilities, and modern ICT applications for identity management and academic verification are also being developed.
Introduction of a NIN-based identification and verification system to help secure academic records and staff-student identification processes is also on the way. Administrative workflows, including leave applications and attendance systems, are gradually being digitized, and ICT consultants have been engaged to craft a full-fledged e-governance framework for the university.
All these form part of a broader goal to entrench efficiency, accountability, and transparency across all levels of university administration.
For instance, in the area of research and academic development, Prof. Ujam has set up a new Directorate for Grants and Scholarships to attract external funding, build partnerships, and expand opportunities for staff and students.
He has also initiated conversations with local and international research institutions to reactivate dormant collaborations and stimulate a culture of research excellence.
The acting Vice Chancellor has encouraged greater support for postgraduate training and supervisor development, while also championing the establishment of specialized research centres and improvement of laboratory conditions.
What makes the Ujam administration stand out is its results-oriented ethos. He is not just vision-driven, but action-focused – demanding timelines, setting deliverables, and ensuring follow-through.
This has created a new culture of responsiveness, particularly in addressing staff and student concerns. Many now speak of a calmer atmosphere in the university, brought about by clearer communication, regular engagement with unions and student leaders, and prompt administrative interventions.
Still, there are challenges – especially regarding funding, delayed federal disbursements, and bureaucratic bottlenecks. Yet, Prof. Ujam’s leadership is not one that shirks from difficulty. He continues to advocate, mobilize resources, and inspire confidence in the future of the university.
Two months on, what is emerging is a Vice Chancellor who listens, acts, and leads. A man who recognizes that UNN’s future depends not just on bold ideas, but also on disciplined execution.
The University community is indeed thrilled to have a leader, who brings together humility, discipline, competence, and courage to bear on his assigned duties.
Interestingly, Ujam has, by many accounts, restored the administrative heartbeat of UNN on the path of sanity and hope.
• Dr. Jaja, the Special Assistant to the acting Vice Chancellor, writes from
University of Nigeria, Nsukka