Gift galore as Faculty of Management Sciences bid farewell to Prof. Ilochi A. Okafor SAN.

Thursday, 30 th April 2008, the Staff and Students of the Faculty of Management Sciences bid farewell to the outgoing Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ilochi A. Okafor (SAN). The University Auditorium venue of the reception was filled to capacity.

The first address of welcome on the occasion was read by the President of the Faculty’s student’s union who said unequivocally that the sendoff was for an illustrious, industrious, arduous, meticulous, religious, courageous and scrupulous administrator and leader of our time. He described the Vice-Chancellor as a source of inspiration to many and a pain to a few who refused to play by the rules.

In another address by the Dean of the Faculty, Prof, E.E. Umebali he welcomed the Vice-Chancellor and his wife and other guests. He thanked God for these five years of a successful tenure and 7 th Convocation. He reeled out the successes of the Prof. Ilochi A. Okafor led Management team- prompt payment of salaries, promotions, normal academic calendar, massive onslaught against cultism, exam malpractice and ‘sorting’. The Dean simply called him a Good Manager of man and resources. He prayed God to reward him with good health and a higher position.

In the Vice-Chancellor’s reply laced with large dose of Biblical allusions and philosophy said he came not just to govern but to transform structurally, content wise. He said that not all decisions taken in the process of this transformation pleased everyone. He gave an example with the payment of school fees which hitherto had been enforced during the second semester. But he said he had to insist that school fees should be paid in the first semester in the interest of the University. In an emphatic manner he reiterated that he did not regret any decision he had taken. He praised the academic staff and students for their hardwork especially for accepting to normalize the academic calendar despite the severe pressure of work.

Looking into the future, he urged all to be disciplined as the future is bright, extremely bright. He called on students to make use of the new library since it was built with school fees paid by students.

He concluded his remarks by saying “ I am bowing out as Vice-Chancellor, I am not bowing out of the University”. He pleased with the University Community to cooperate with his successor.

Prof. Okafor profusely thanked his wife Lady Egosonwa Okafor for her support and consolation during these past years. On a parting note the Vice-Chancellor stated that his greatest wish is to ‘Go on a missionary work where no one will know me’.

Seminar On FGN Bonds Held At UNIZIK

A one – day seminar organized by the Debt Management Office

of the Presidency in collaboration with George Andrews and Partners was held at the University Auditorium on Wednesday, April 29, 2009.

The Workshop looked at the nature, benefits and Investment procedures as it concerns the Federal Government Bonds.

On the scintillating and incisive seminar, participants were exposed to the methodology of investing in the FGN bonds, who is qualified to invest reasons for investing in the bonds how attractive the FGN bonds are; managing the Investment, the disposal methods (ie how the proceeds from Investment in the bonds could be realized the banks to subscribe to as well a the discount Houses.

The workshop which was free attracted mainly students due to lack of adequate publicity by the organizers.

AN ADDRESS BY PROF. EMERITUS F.A NWAKO TO BE DELIVERED AT THE NAMING CEREMONY OF THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ON 26 TH OF APRIL 2008.

i am highly delighted to address this esteemed audience on this happy occasion. It is indeed a thing of joy that the Management and senate of this University have decided to name a building as important as the University Library after my humble self. I sincerely thank the University for considering me worthy of this honour.

I am fully aware of the central or cardiac position occupied by the University Library in any reputable academic institution, and the pivotal role it plays in achieving the institution’s objectives by rendering services that actively support teaching and research. In fact it can be rightly said that an academic institution is as good as its library. Apart from the quality of its contents and professional staff, the building should be aesthetically elegant enough to attract the attention of any visitor to the University. That is all the more reason why I fully appreciate the enormity of the honour bestowed on me today.

When I assumed office as the first Vice-Chancellor of this University in 1991, the vision of a decent and respectable Library was uppermost in my mind, but as events unfolded and the financial fortunes of the university dictated, it dawned on me that the vision was not to be actualized by King David, but by King Solomon personified by Prof. Ilochi A. Okafor, SAN.

The library I met when I assumed duty as Vice-Chancellor was a three storied bloc of eight residential apartments at the temporal site of the University, a private building owned by Chief Uyanwune. Book stacks were tucked into the living rooms and bedrooms. Kitchens and toilets were converted to offices, stores and bindery. It was to say the least most unsuitable for library accommodation. There were no more than two thousand books and backsets of journals. The Library was then managed by Mr. R.C. Nwamefor who was hired from the then Anambra State College of Education, Awka. He retired soon after in 1992 and handed over to his Deputy, Mr. E.O. Onwuka, the current Ag. Librarian.

By 1993, the finances of the University had improved significantly with the takeover of the University by the Federal Government. My first action was to move the Library out of its unsuitable accommodation in a residential building to the stretch of halls in the Temporary site Quadrangle. I knew it was still inadequate but it was approximate to what a temporary library should be.

In 1994, the Federal Government reached an agreement with the European Union on joint Library intervention, which would have significantly enriched select libraries with current books and journals and provide modern equipments as well as staff development. Our University Library was to be a beneficiary. Unfortunately, that ambitious project was scuttled as part of international punitive measures against the Gen. Abacha regime. Though the planned intervention failed it had some positive impact on library development in our University. The response to the requirements of the European Union from participating libraries provided the vital impetus for building a proper Library. The then representative of the European Union and facilitator of the programme, Miss Paula Middleton, insisted that nothing would be supplied to us in the makeshift library because she considered it too cramped, unusable and insecure. I had to direct the then Director of Works and Physical Planning, Engr. Lambert Ojukwu to design a temporary library at the permanent site of the University which would meet the requirement of the European Union. It had to be located at the periphery of the campus in order not to distort the master plan area on the insistence of the NUC. The result was the present temporary library in the permanent site.

In 1995, we employed the first substantive University Librarian, Prof. M.W. Anyakoha. Things moved fast, and with Library Development Fund (L.D.F) coming from the Federal Government a lot of progress was made. Prof. Anyakoha will testify that all money meant for the library went to the Library.

I had consistently given the University Library Building top priority in the list of capital projects during my tenure. It is a pleasure to see that the library complex that is being commissioned today is more expansive in scope than what we had planned during my tenure. I am particularly excited to see the Annex, which is a Virtual Library. This means that access to information in this institution is no longer limited to the resources of this library, but reaches out to various resources all over the world. This is excellent and in keeping withy the University Motto that emphasizes excellence.

I crave your indulgence if I have bored you with the chronicles of library development in UNIZIK. I felt that it is important to trace our journey to the present place, as I think it will help to highlight the importance of this landmark achievement. I have focused on the Library for an obvious reason but that it not to belittle other achievements during Prof. Ilochi Orator’s tenure. I am indeed fascinated by the rapid infrastructural developments that have taken place in the University. He has positively changed the face of UNIZIK in such a significant manner that he has clearly written his name in letters of gold in the annals of this institution. We are all proud of him. I congratulate the University Librarian, Mr. E.O. Onwuka for his mature steadfastness in serving the University over the years. I urge all persons of good will and charitable disposition to support this Library in every way they can. We are grateful to those who have already done so, example, the Chief Medical Director of NAUTH, in College sof Health Sciences, in particular the department of Surgery, all my friends and well wishers, too numerous to mention. It would perhaps be necessary to document their contributions appropriately for posterity.

Once again, I thank the Vice-Chancellor, Management, Senate and Council of this University for considering me worthy of this honour, and recognizing my very modest contribution to the development of this institution. I am indeed overwhelmed by this recognition and the tremendous goodwill I have enjoyed. May others honour you in good time, Mr. Vice-Chancellor, is my ardent prayer.

Please join me as we sing:

May the Spirit of the Lord come down, Amen

Let the Spirit of the Lord come down, in Jesus name

May the Spirit of the Lord, from heaven come down

Let the Spirit of the Lord come down.

Thank you very much.

Professor Emeritus F.A. Nwako.

26 TH APRIL 2008.

PEOFILE ON EMERITUS PROFESSOR FESTUS AGHAGBO N\WAKO

 

It is a great privilege and pleasure to introduce our Honouree – Emeritus Professor FESTUS AGHAGBO NWAKO. i do so with a deep feeling of humility as he is a phenomenon – what a herculean task trying to climb an Iroko tree!

Born in the semi-urban town of Abagana in Anambra State, he has clocked the biblical three score and ten years and going yet, at the age of 75 years.

From the prestigious St Patrick’s College, Calabar, he proceeded to the National University of Ireland where he won numerous academic laurels and multiple prizes:

• Federal Government Scholar – 1958 – 60
• From year one to four, he won prizes as best overall medical student
• Obtained MB B.Ch, BAO with Honours, distinguishing in Surgery – 1960.

- Passed the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland - 1964

- Acquired the enviable higher surgical degrees of M.Ch cum laude, thereafter.

He returned to the premier University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan as Senior Registrar under eminent surgical giants – Late Prof. Fabian Udekwu and Emeritus Professor Toriola Solanke with my humble self as house surgeon. His intellectual and practical surgical skills were that of a creative genius and too glaring not to be noticed. His clinical acumen and operative skills are legendary. Not only did he become a role model for many of us, he also got international accolades:

• Senior Ford Foundation Fellow in Paediatric Surgery at the famous John

Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, USA 1966 – 67

• Heinz Fellow in Paediatric Surgery, Liverpool 1971 – 72
• International Examiner – Undergraduate and Postgraduate.
• Editror of several national and international medical journals.
• Honorary citizen of Louisville and Commonwealths of Kentucky, USA since 1994.
• Officer of the Order National du Lion (OONL)< Senegal 1997.
• First Nigerian Paediatric Surgeon to be elected to British Association of Paediatric Surgeons (BAPS)
• Past President, West African College of Surgeons (WACS) 1995 – 98
• Past 1 st Vice-President, International College of Surgeon (ICS) Nigerian

National Section (NNS)

• Co-ordinator and National Delegate, International /Surgical Society 1995 – 98
• Chairman, Management Board, Abakaliki Specialist Hospital, 1991.
• Former Chairman old Anambra State Lawn Tennis Association and Sports

Physician to Vasco Dagama (NITEL) Football Club.

• Foundation Vice-Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU)< 1991 – 98

He laid the foundation of discipline, self-reliance and excellence from which our visionary Vice-Chancellor – Prof. Ilochi Okafor (SAN) has taken to enviable heights – ‘UNIZIK is the University of the moment’.

In the recent past, he has served as

• Pro-Chancellor, Anambra State University of Technology, Uli.
• Chairman of Board of Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba.
• Emeritus Professor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) – 2005.

A 1975 Professor of Paediatric Surgery, he has eight textbooks, thirty-two journal articles (all referred) and numerous conference papers to his credit.]

He is the African scholar who has the greatest number of successful separation of conjoined twins (Siamese) south of Sahara – Mr. Siamese twins.

He has held varied administrative and managerial positions creditably:

• Dean of Medicine (UNN) and Chief Medical Director (UNTH) etc.

His contribution to practice of surgery during these years transcends this brief introduction.

Visitor, Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, distinguished ladies and gentlemen (as the Honouree would always say) I shall keep this introduction in direct proportion to his size.

Here, in this auspicious occasion, stands before you

• a distinguished academic
• an achiever of plural dimensions
• a doyen of Paediatric Surgery
• indefatigable and astute administrator
• a master craftsman
• an avowed disciple of merit and discipline
• a sportsman
• an International surgical ambassador
• teacher of teachers, professor of professors.
• A Professor Emeritus

Whom this University has decided to name her Library after, for his inestimable contribution scholarship.

Professor Emeritus Festus Aghagbo NWAKO , FRCS(1), M.Ch, FMCS, FWACS, FICS, FISS

Alias ‘Obata Obie”

Faculty Of Education Fetes Prof. Ilochi Okafor, SAN

Wednesday, April 29, 2008 was a day of joy for all the staff and students of the faculty of Education as they gathered at the CBN building to share in the valedictory party for the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ilochi Okafor, SAN.

In his valedictory address, the Dean of the faculty of Education, Prof. J.O. Okafor said that the day cannot be forgotten in the history of the faculty. According to him, “We have set aside this day to interact with this wonderful man”. He reiterated the fact that Prof. Ilochi Okafor was an achiever who has a vision and a fantastic mission. Prof. Okafor went further to list the litany of achievements of the Vice-Chancellor which include: movement of the temporary site to the permanent site, provision of an enabling environment for teaching and learning; payment of salaries as and when due. Introduction of new programmes (of which the faculty of Education benefited immensely; prompt promotion of staff; four Deputy Vice-Chancellor serving under his five year tenure; the faculty benefiting six times from professorial cadres between 2003 – 2008.

Moreso, the Dean observed that the Vice-Chancellor was not only interested in creating new programmes and new faculties, but was sure that those programmes and faculties were recognized by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Aside appreciating the Vice-Chancellor, the Dean called on him (on behalf of the entire staff of the faculty) to tamper justice with mercy by recalling two of their staff already on suspension. He prayed the out-going Vice-Chancellor to ensure that the issue of accommodation for the faculty is given adequate emphasis in his handover note to his successor.

Earlier in his speech, the Vice-Chancellor, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Sam Omenyi thanked the faculty for organizing the reception in his honour. He extended the Vice-Chancellor’s apologies for his inability to be there physically owing to the engagements of the previous week. Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor thanked the staff for their wonderful support.

The highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of gifts to the Vice-Chancellor and his management team with few comments made by some Professors in the faculty on the way forward. Dr Romy Okoye of the department of Educational Foundations gave the vote of the thanks, to consummate a wonderful sendforth in honour of a great achiever.

CONVOCATION: Covenant University Rejoices with UNIZIK

The Vice-Chancellor Prof. Aize Obayan on behalf of the Chancellor, Members of the Board of Regents, the Senate and entire Staff of Covenant University, Ogun warmly congratulate the Management, Staff and Students of UNIZIK on the occasion of its 7 th Convocation Ceremony in his letter to the Vice-Chancellor dated 22 nd April, 2008.

He stated that they have noted the outstanding achievements of Nnamdi Azikiwe University and have enjoyed the rich interaction and exchange they have had with UNIZK over the years and commends the leadership qualities in steering the flagship of UNIZIK of the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ilochi A. Okafor (SAN). He has confident that the best is yet to come.

Highlights of Management Decisions

• Management at its 184 th meeting held on Monday, 7 th April, 2008 declined to approve the request of Mr. Benjamin O. Onu that the school fees he paid in 2006/2007 when he deferred his PGDE admission be transferred to 2007/2008 session.
• Management at its 185 th meeting held on Monday 14 th April, 2008 considered the letter of acceptance of appointment of Dr. Chinedu Uchechukwu of Department of Linguistics and his plea to be permitted to travel back to Germany to formally terminate his appointment with the Ludwig Maximilians University at Munchen Germany and approved that Dr. Uchechukwu should travel but must resume duty by November 1, 2008.
• Management at its 185 th meeting turned down the request of Mrs. E.Ogochukwu Okolo and Mrs. G. Ifeoma Okoye for review and redesignation of their appointment on the following premise:
• That relevant experience was duly considered by the selection panel.
• No other office is competent to overrule or amend that decision which was subsequently approved by the UMC.
• That you accepted your placement.

Obituary

The Vice-Chancellor announces with deep regrets the death of the following:

Mrs. Bridget N. Akabogu (Nee Ezeukwu), mother of Pharmacist Uzochukwu, Ikemefuna C. Ph.D of Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences who slept in the Lord on Easter Sunday, 23 rd March, 2008. She will be buried on Thursday 29 th May, 2008 by the Anglican Bishop of Ogbaru diocese at Umudieke village Akwaeze.

Calendar of events for the school of P.G. Studies

2007/2008

Wednesday April 16 Close of registration for 2007/2008

Monday 19 th May – Friday 8 th Aug. (12 weeks)) 1 st semester Lectures

Monday 11 th – 16 th August (1 week) Revision for Revision for 1 st Semester Exams

Monday 18 th – Friday 29 th August (2 weeks) 1 st Semester Exams

Monday 1 st – Friday 6 th September (1 week) Semester Break

Monday 1 st Sept. – Friday 31 st Oct. (2 months) Sale of forms for 2008/2009 Admission

Monday 8 th Sept. – Friday 21 st Nov. (11 weeks) 2 nd Semester Lectures

Monday 24 th Nov. – Friday 28 th Nov. Revision for 2 nd Semester Exams.

Monday 1 st Dec. – Friday 12 Dec. (2 weeks) 2 nd Semester Exams

2008/2009 Session

Thurs. 16 th Dec. 2008 – Friday 2 nd Jan 2009 (3 weeks) Registration

Monday 5 th Jan – Friday 20 th March (11 weeks)) 1 st semester Lectures

Monday 23 rd – Friday 27 th March Revision for 1 st Semester Exams

Monday 30 th – Friday 10 th April, 2008 1 st Semester Examinations

Saturday 11 th – Saturday 25 th April Semester Break

Monday 27 th – Friday 3 rd July (10 week) 2 nd Semester Lectures

Monday 29 th June – 30 th August (2 months) Sale of forms for 2009/2010 Admission

Monday 6 th – Friday 10 th July Revision for 2 nd Semester Exams

Monday 13 th – Friday 24 th July 2 nd Semester Exams.

Monday 27 th July Long Vacation .

Conference

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ilochi A. Okafor (SAN) has appointed the Dean of Environmental Sciences Prof. Igbokwe to represent him at the conference of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) taking place at the University of Calabar on 6 th May, 2008. This conference is the 4 th bi-annual conference for Nigerian Tertiary Institutions.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ilochi A. Okafor (SAN) has approved that Enete Ifeanyi C. attend the 15 th Annual Conference of Environmental and Behavior Association of Nigeria (EBAN) holding at Babcock University , Ilisha Ogun State from 6-9 th May, 2008. Mr. Enete is billed to deliver a paper titled, “Potential Impacts of climate Change on coastal Settlements of Nigeria”

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ilochi A. Okafor (SAN) has approved the sponsorship for Orogbu, Obiageli I. to attend an International Conference on the role of research in the attainment of the millennium Development Goals at the University of Calabar from 7 th to 8 th May, 2008.

Appointment of Ag. Head, Department of Community Medicine

The Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ilochi A. Okafor (SAN) has appointed Dr. U.E. Ebenebe as the Ag. Head Department of Community Medicine, Nnewi Campus for the rest of the 2007/2008 academic year. The appointment takes immediate effect. UNIZIK Bulletin congratulates Dr. Ebenebe.

Expulsion

S/N	Name	Department	Reg. No	Offence
1	Enem, Kingsley Uchenna			cult activity/fighting