At Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UniZik) in Awka, Anambra State, a serious controversy is brewing over the election of the institution’s next Vice Chancellor. The process, marred by allegations of discrimination and bias, has triggered significant backlash from the university’s community, particularly among members of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN). This group is now seeking legal intervention to halt the selection, claiming that the process unfairly excludes their members due to new eligibility criteria.
MDCAN, representing several senior medical staff, alleges that the University’s Governing Council has discriminated against candidates from their association by enforcing an exclusive qualification requirement: only candidates with a doctorate degree are eligible for the Vice Chancellor position. Many MDCAN members, though highly qualified with extensive university administration experience, do not hold doctorates but possess other relevant credentials. MDCAN Chairman of the NAUTH Nnewi Chapter, Dr. Victor Modekwe, emphasized that previous advertisements for the Vice Chancellor position accepted either a doctorate degree or equivalent qualifications. The sudden shift in requirements, he argues, specifically targets their members and disregards the breadth of administrative expertise they bring to the table.
Adding to the mounting tension, MDCAN has petitioned the National Industrial Court to halt the election process until these issues are addressed. They argue that the revised qualification criteria reflect a calculated move by the Governing Council to favor a particular candidate. Reports also indicate that the Council has already obtained a consent judgment from the National Industrial Court in Awka, which may enable the election process to proceed despite the controversy.
The university’s Senate has also joined the protest, objecting to what they describe as a “biased advertisement” for the Vice Chancellor position. Despite calls for the Governing Council to retract this advertisement, their requests have allegedly been ignored, further aggravating the situation.
Within the university, there are growing fears that the unrest might escalate if these grievances are left unaddressed. Several stakeholders, concerned about the university’s stability, have called upon Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Education to intervene. They argue that only external intervention can prevent a looming industrial crisis that could severely impact academic and administrative functions at the institution.
Sources indicate that interviews for the Vice Chancellor role may still take place within the week, despite MDCAN’s demand for a postponement. With each passing day, tensions continue to escalate, putting UniZik’s Governing Council and the university community on high alert as they await further developments in this contentious selection process.
