Stabilizing A Smooth Academic Programme In UNIZIK

In a twist of good fortune, Professor Joseph Ikechebelu, hitherto Acting Vice-Chancellor, who was supplanted with Mrs. Carol Arinze-Umeobi by the sacked Governing Council, has re-emerged as the substantive Acting Vice-Chancellor. This stroke of the Visitor’s authority is viewed as commendable by observers as it avoids any lacuna in leadership at a critical moment in the life of the university. Judging from the brief spell of leadership provided by the astute surgeon and administrator some months ago, Professor Ikechebelu appears favourably disposed to stem the drift and provide much needed stability in Nnamdi Azikiwe University at the moment.

Paramount in the scheme of urgent needs of the university is the restoration of peace and trust, as well as the welfare of the lecturers and students of NAU. Therefore, Professor Joseph Ikechebelu must hit the ground of the Ivory Tower armed with a message of unity of purpose to institute and sustain peace and tranquility that will make for smooth academic pursuit. In the short term, it is suggested that the Acting Vice-Chancellor should immediately initiate the following measures:

 *Stateholder Outreach and Engagement:* The struggle for power and control in NAU left not a few bruised egos and rivals. The acting VC should immediately arm himself with an olive branch that will form a canopy for all in the university community to find a shade. There is no room for vindictiveness or the attempt to sideline any person or group that can add value and help stabilise the institution for smooth academic pursuit. Now that the Governing Council stands dissolved, all senior professors, heads of departments, the leadership of academic and non-academic staff of the university must rally round the acting Vice-Chancellor to move the institution forward.

 *Easing the Admission Process:* Feelers show that the bickering and disruptions associated with the leadership tussle unwittingly impacted negatively on the institution’s admission process, thus creating doubts in the minds of new intakes and their parents and leading to shortfalls. Time is of essence, and immediate action is required to assure new stitudents that the University is stable and ready to welcome them to a conducive learning environment.

 *Interactive Session with Students:* The Acting Vice-Chancellor must as a matter of urgency move with the rest of the University’s key officers to meet, address and interact with the student community. The interaction with the Students’ Union/student community is necessary to put the issues in perspective, assuage their fears and show a positive indication that the blip in leadership that the  institution suffered recently has been redressed and UNIZIK is heading in the right direction.

 *Boosting Internal/External Communications:* As a confidence boosting measure in the spirit of a new regime of stability, the Acting Vice-Chancellor must exploit without delay a daily briefing template to carry the various departments along as he implements new progressive measures in the institution. In the same vein, outreach to external stakeholders through informal and formal channels is imperative to assure the Academic Staff Union of Universities, National University Commission, Federal Ministry of Education, Hon Minister of Education and, above all, the Visitor etc that UNIZIK is in good hands and is now delivering on their mandate. Milestones should be highlighted and publicised as appropriate to show and tell the progress on ground.

There is also the reported visitation by an  accreditation panel in respect of some courses in the institution. This requirement is amongst the core needs for smooth academic process, hence the urgent need to follow-up and ensure the fulfillment of the accreditation requirements immediately.

These short term priority recommendations, amongst others, will no doubt come handy to the Acting Vice-Chancellor and his team as they buckle down to the urgent task at hand in UNIZIK.

– Ozumba, a Communications Consultant, writes from Awka, Anambra State.