By Adesina Soyooye
Lecturers and Students of the Kingsley Mbadiwe University, have been ordered back to the University by the Imo State Government.
The University, formerly Eastern Palm University, has been a subject of controversy over its ownership between the Imo State Government and former Governor Rochas Okorocha.
The Governor, now the Senator representing Imo West, had claimed ownership of the University, saying his Foundation entered into partnership with Imo State Government while he was Governor, giving him a 90% stake and the State, a 10% stake.
However, a Judicial Panel, set up by the Imo State Government under former Governor Emeka Ihedioha, and sustained by the incumbent Governor Hope Uzodinma, discovered that the University is wholly owned by the Imo State Government, having been funded to the tune of over N20 billion from the State Treasury.
It took over the University, and renamed it after one of the State’s great sons, Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe, popular as K.O.Mbadiwe.
Last week, the Okorocha appointed Vice Chancellor, Professor Tola Badejo, suddenly, suspended academic activities , and asked Lecturers and Students to vacate, citing among other things the renaming of the University and confusion over its ownership.
But in a swift reaction in order not to disrupt academic activities, Governor Hope Uzodinma appointed, with immediate effect, Prof Ikechukwu Dozie as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University.
Dozie, a well-rounded academic is a Professor of Micro Biology at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO.
According to the Imo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bernard Thompson O. Ikegwuoha, with the appointment of Prof Dozie, “the former Vice Chancellor, Prof Tola Badejo, has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect.
“This is sequel to the former Vice Chancellor’s unauthorised announcement, illegally suspending academic activities in the University for the 2020/2021 academic year.
“All students and staff of the University are consequently advised to disregard the unauthorised announcement of the former Vice Chancellor and return to normal academic and administrative life without delay,” Prof. Ikegwuoha added.
Born on March 3, 1966, in Umuokazi Amuzi, Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, Professor Dozie was one of the contenders for the office of the Vice Chancellor of FUTO which was filled recently. He was the first runner-up.
Prof. Dozie had his First School Leaving Certificate from Agbani Road Primary School, Enugu , Enugu State and attended Mbaise Secondary School, Aboh-Mbaise , Imo State where he obtained the West Africa School Certificate with Division One in 1980.
He holds a BSc. combined honours in Microbiology/Biochemistry and an MSc Medical Microbiology from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a PhD in Public Health Parasitology from the University of Jos.
His quest for further skill sets in higher education management to him to Galilee International Management Institute (GIMI) Israel in 2010 and 2011.
Professor Dozie, until his appointment is a Public Health Scientist, Teacher and Community Health Specialist currently serving at the Department of Public Health, FUTO.
Dozie is a member of American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (ASTMH), served as a consultant to the World Health Organisation ; WHO’s African programme for Onchocerciasis, as well as a Director, Linkages and Advancement, Federal University of Technology Owerri .
He started his teaching career in 1992 as an Assistant Lecturer at Imo State University Owerri, Nigeria and was promoted to the rank of a Professor in 2005.
He was a Visiting Professor at the Federal University of Technology Owerri , Nigeria between 2007-2010 while on leave of Absence from Imo State University Owerri .
Prof Dozie was Head, Department of Public Health Technology, Dean, School of Health Technology and Member, 11th Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology Owerri .
Prof Dozie’s engagement in other National Assignments include Panel Moderator at the nd High-Level Meeting (HLM) of the GlobalPower Women Network Africa (GPWNA) organized by the Government of Nigeria in collaboration with the African Union and with support of UNAIDS , Abuja June 27 – 28, 2013; Facilitator, Induction Course for Ambassador-Designates by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nigeria, December 9 – 13, 2013; Panellist, 2014 Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) Selection Interview, Federal Ministry of Education Federal Scholarship Board, Nanet Suites Abuja, December 1-5, 2014 and Member Imo State Government Transition Technical Committee (April, 2019).
