The Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, has thrown more light on why it dumped Prof. Gregory C. Nwakoby, who came first in the interview conducted by the Joint Council/Senate Board and settled for second-placed Professor Joseph E. Ahaneku as the institution’s new Vice-Chancellor.

The Council made the clarification in a statement issued yesterday in Awka signed by Prof. Charles Esimone – Council Member representing Senate, Dr. Carol Arinze-Umobi – Council Member representing Senate, and Dr. Godson Okafor – Council Member representing Congregation.

The statement, which dismissed allegations of bribery leveled by Prof. Nwakoby, said as follows:

We, the members of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka have viewed some reactions emanating from the recent appointment of Professor Joseph Eberendu Ahaneku, FAS as the 5^th substantive Vice-Chancellor of UNIZIK and wish to present the true position of what actually transpired throughout the entire process. This is with a view to correcting the obvious lies, half-truths, fabrications and unnecessary malicious guess-work deliberately orchestrated to misinform unsuspecting Nigerians. For the purpose of these clarifications the process of appointing a reputable and capable Vice-Chancellor for UNIZIK in accordance with the provisions of the law, is divided into five stages namely; Declaration of Vacancy/Advertisement, Search, Shortlist, Interaction/Interview and Selection/Appointment.

1. Advertisement

The advertisement was done in the following newspapers – Guardian of 24^th Dec. 2013, Sun of 24^th Dec. 2013 and Vanguard of 27^th Dec. 2013. Thirty two candidates responded to the advertisement

2. Search Team

The General Council constituted a Search Committee which searched out two (2) candidates bringing the total number of candidates to thirty four (34) using the standard Template issued by the Federal Ministry of Education to guide the selection of Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities.

3. Shortlist

The Shortlist Committee of Council met four (4) times between Thursday, 17^th April and Saturday, 3^rd May, 2014 and recommended the following nine (9) candidates who scored 70% and above ranked in order of performance.

S/N	Name	Total Score (73)	Percentage score
1	Prof. Joseph Eberendu Ahaneku	69	94.5%
2	Prof. Benjamin Chuka Osisioma	59	80.82%
3	Prof. Ikechukwu S. Oluka	58	79.45%
4	Prof. Okechukwu Christian Ikpeze	58	79.45%
5	Prof. Gregory C. Nwakoby	55.5	76.03%
6	Prof. Azubuike Sunny Nwankwo	53.5	73.29%
7	Prof. Ifeoma Bessie Enweani	52.5	71.92%
8	Prof. Emeka Nwabueze	52	71.23%
9	Prof. Godwin E. Mbamalu	51.5	70.55%

Council accepted the Report of the Shortlist Committee and commended the Committee for a job well done.

4. Joint Council/Senate Interview Board

The Joint Council/Senate Board met and using a scoring system different from the Template issued by the Federal Ministry of Education interviewed the nine (9) shortlisted candidates. At the end of the interactive session, the required three (3) candidates were recommended in the following order.

S/No	Name	CV (50%)	Interaction (50%)	Total Marks (100%)
1	Prof. Gregory C. Nwakoby	45.25	44.4	89.65%
2.	Prof. Joseph E. Ahaneku	41.25	39.4	80.65%
3.	Prof. Benjamin C. Osisioma	45.5	33.9	79.4%

As required by law, the Report of the Joint Council/Senate Board would be presented to the General Council for its approval and adoption but before this could be done, Prof. Greg Nwakoby caused the Report to be announced on the Radio stations when indeed the Report was not yet presented to the Governing Council in accordance with the provisions of the Law which meant that the process was still incomplete.

5. Selection and Appointment of Vice-Chancellor

The General Council received the Report of the Joint Council and Senate Board. The Prayer of this Board reads as follows

“Council is invited to consider the Report, select and appoint as the Vice-Chancellor, one candidate from among the three recommended candidates”

Council considered the Report and by a vote cast by Council members, Prof. Joseph E. Ahaneku emerged the preferred candidate. The mode of voting was by secret ballot the result of which is as follows:

Out of eleven (11) Council members that voted, a total of eight (8) voted for Prof. Joseph E. Ahaneku while three (3) voted for Prof. Gregory C. Nwakoby.

It can be seen clearly that the premise of Prof. Gregory Nwakoby’s argument of being denied victory is fraudulent and baseless. For Prof. Nwakoby to have stolen Council document and went ahead to announce same in the media was a sinister move.

Even at that the argument that he (Prof. Nwakoby) scored highest in the interaction was also baseless, after all Prof. Joseph Ahaneku came first in the shortlist and yet did not go ahead to make announcements in the media. Therefore the argument by Prof. Nwakoby that he came first in the entire process is baseless and misleading.

For the avoidance of doubt, based on the score of shortlist and interaction summed together, the following result is available for your scrutiny:

Prof. Ahaneku – shortlist score 94.5% + Interview score 80.65% = average score is 87.6%

Prof. Nwakoby – shortlist score 76.03% + Interview score 89.65% = average score is 82.76%

Therefore, it is incorrect for Prof. Greg Nwakoby to be misinforming the general public and fabricating lies calculated towards destabilising the University. Let us state unequivocally that the University is calm and peaceful and that Council has already issued an appointment letter to the new Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph E. Ahaneku following the provisions of the University enabling law. Ever since this decision of Council, critical sections of the University Community have endorsed the decision of Council. ASUU and the Students Union Government have already lauded Council decision and congratulated the VC - elect

Finally, we hereby state that the entire process was in accordance with due process and provisions of the University Act.

•Photo shows new UNIZIK VC, Prof. Ahaneku.

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