“It’s Fake News, I Have Not Been Appointed UNN’s Acting Vice Chancellor”

By Adesina Soyooye

Professor Polycap Emeka Chigbu has cut short the joy and celebration of not a few people.

A couple of days ago, the Social Media was agog with the news that Chigbu, a former Deputy  Vice Chancellor, Academics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, has been appointed the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University by the University’s Council. Celebration by his friends and admirers followed.

But the Mbaise, Imo State-born Academic says it is all fake news from which he has distanced himself in a personally signed statement.

He disclosed that the truth is that five Professors, apparently, including himself, have been shortlisted and forwarded to the University’s Council, and the process of choosing one out of the five in progress, and yet to be concluded.

Chigbu’s statement reads: “It has come to my attention that reports are circulating online claiming that I have been elected as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I wish to categorically state that no such appointment has been made. I have not been appointed as the Acting Vice Chancellor, and any reports suggesting otherwise are both false and unsubstantiated.

“The process to elect an Acting Vice Chancellor remains ongoing and has not yet reached a conclusion. On August 12, 2024, the Senate conducted elections among nine candidates, from which five professors were selected and their names forwarded to the University Governing Council for further consideration and vetting. Subsequently, the Governing Council will choose one of these five candidates to serve as the Acting Vice Chancellor. Therefore, any news circulating in the media is incorrect and lacks any basis.”

A couple of months ago, a former Governor of Enugu State, who was also the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Joe Nwodo, shocked not a few people when, in a Media interview, he canvassed that the next Vice Chancellor of UNN must be a native of Nsukka, the host Community of the University.

Dr Nwodo is an Nsukka indigene.