The Man Prof Ilochi Okafor , SAN, As Viewed Few Years Back By Non Residents And Residents Alike

                       

Odogwuemekaodogwu.blogspot.com came about this piece and decided to remind ourselves about Prof Ilochi Okafor , the Greatest Vice Chancellor ever Nnamdi Azikiwe Univeristy had as testified in the piece below written several years ago , precisely July 2009 when Prof Okafor wanted to govern Anambra. What is your take.

          My Encounter with Ilochi Okafor

By Okey Nwafor.

Dear colleagues thank you very much for sending this information across to me. As I received this piece of information I began immediately to reflect upon my encounter with Professor Ilochi Okafor during his brief tenure as the Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, where I teach, and I thought it wise to share some of my reflections with you also.

First of all I am sure that Prof Ilochi Okafor does not know me in person. I am also not sure if he can remember my name if he sees it anywhere. But beyond my interest to fraternize with him lies a much more personal allegiance, on my part, for what he represented and meant to me. Let me say at this point, for the benefit of clarification, that this is not a rhetoric encomium but a personal submission that is informed by genuine, unprejudiced understanding of what Prof Okafor means to me. Therefore, without being overtly reverential here, when I applied to the Vice chancellor to travel to Austria for an international conference and workshop in 2004 Prof. Ilochi Okafor approved a substantial amount for me   (despite repeated cynicism and discouragement by colleagues that this money will not be approved). That gesture struck me and I did not hesitate to score this man a potent mark of good for his love of academic excellence. I said this because there was no bureaucracy that trailed my application and this was because, I am sure, Prof Okafor was at the helm. Secondly, in 2007  I applied again to travel to Zambia for another international conference and workshop and again came the usual pessimism regarding approval of money, but Prof Okafor without knowing whom I am immediately approved another substantial amount for my flight and expenses. And most detractors were now convinced that this man meant well for the growth of academic enterprise in UNIZIK.

But my worry is that the general public come to conclusion very quickly and perfunctorily. I have learnt over the years to disregard the rumours, insinuations, character defamation, and campaigns of calumny, and hearsay that come out of the talebearers, busybodies, scandalmongers among other idle shenanigans. At least that gives me an edge over illiterate folks. I have learnt that a personal encounter and experience with a fellow human being can unravel any mystery about that person and I urge us to also think in the same manner.

My humble submission here is that when  I got a Ford foundation scholarship to study for a Post graduate course at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa, my application for a one year study leave was threatened by some other idle talks but once it got to the management which was made up of fine minds like Prof Boniface Egboka, Prof, Emeka Ezeonu, Prof Sam Omenyi and others it had no problems. But I was particularly confident that with Prof Ilochi Okafor any application for an academic undertaking can never fail.

When  I came back and wanted again to proceed for a Ph.D fellowship in the same university, Professor Boniface Egboka who had taken up after Prof. Okafor also approved my study leave. But I am particularly happy that these men I have mentioned worked with Prof. Ilochi Okafor and they also think alike.

My conclusion is that under Professor Okafor a lot our academics were promoted to the level of professorship and other positions which they deserved; needless to speak of his radical infrastructural development in UNIZIK.  I have a strong belief that this man is the right candidate to lead Anambra State out of the accumulated malaise imposed on it by overzealous and wicked troublemakers.  Please let us realize that all of us have one or two blemishes as human beings but when we allow trifle personal flaws to shield our capacity to see the good in man then we have aired as human beings. Let us refrain from blanket condemnation and acid reprobation by  rejecting the  dangerous scheming of mischief makers.   Let us remember that Michael Jackson was derided for his personal blemish but the same people that derided him came out en masse to celebrate his contributions to mankind. I am enjoining us to consider throwing our strength behind him in support of his candidacy for the governorship of Anambra State (if he has declared his interest). It is well with Anambra State .

Okechukwu Nwafor (PhD student, University of the Western Cape , South Africa ).

http://okeynwafor.blogspot.com/

  

                INTRODUCING A UNIQUE REFORMER IN ANAMBRA STATE

 

                 Who is PROFESSOR ILOCHI AUGUSTINE OKAFOR SAN?

 

Prof  Ilochi Okafor SAN was born in August 18^th, 1945. He hails from Ogbunike Town , Oyi L.G.A. of Anambra State . He is married with four children and is now a happy grand father and a devoted Christian.

Ilochi or Austin as he is fondly called by some of his colleagues is a senior lawyer by profession who took his legal profession to the grand peak attainable by any private legal practitioner in Nigeria when in April 1995 he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

He has been a University Don for over thirty years and in that field attained the rank of a Professor of Law and later became the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka from  2003 to May 2008. On assumption of the post of a Vice Chancellor, he turned around and reformed the University from the status of a glorified secondary school to a prestigious University rich in structural edifices worthy of association enough to compete with any other known world University. He instilled high moral standards and academic performance which had been lacking in the University. This sudden turn around within a very short time earned him an award of the second best Vice Chancellor out of 76 Universities in Nigeria in 2005.

In the field of politics and further administration he was the Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice in the old Anambra State from 1990 to 1991 and Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice in the new Anambra State from 1991 to 1992.

He is a holder of uncountable merit awards from organisations within and outside the country. He maintained consistently substantial portions of his salary even as a civil servant to fund an education endowment for four Academic Prizes to encourage brilliant and indigent students.

He had maintained an outstanding track record in all his endeavours in life which manifested quite early in his life and dates back to his school days when he maintained best student awards all through…..and many more.

Anambra Citizens are now looking at this man with utmost interest and consideration that he could be the right man to transform Anambra State in the days to come. You are invited to join us to view this man further.

Remember the future of Anambra State is at stake!!!

Contact us at [email protected] or +1-202-415-9871 for further enquiries.

Reaction

To Pencil Okechukwu Nwafor, I hail.

My reaction to your piece will be one that expresses great joy partly for re-uniting with an old friend of your type and more, for your evidence-backed endorsement of Prof. Ilochi’s candidature.

Indeed, Anambra state is in dire need of a rescuer. A task that only principled reformers can do.

As it stands, I have not had such one on one dealing with Ilochi. In such situation one is left to depend on trusted recommendations and visible results.

I will make no pretence about my awareness of the laudable achievements of Prof. Ilochi Okafor as the University Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University .

Put aside, the numerous Awards that played a wonderful background role in Ilochi’s picture that was sent to this medium, I have been to my almamater to see for myself- the turn around...

More credence given to Ilochi’s large viability is more visible on the fact that he convinced and worked with such no-nonsense persons like Proff. Emeka Ezeonu, Dr. Stan Success Udedi and more.

It therefore makes sense for me to support his candidature for the Seat of the governor of Anambra State if after his days in the University as the vice Chancellor; he still retains the recommendations of my trusted friends- Proff Emeka Ezeonu, Dr Stan udedi and even my pal Okechukwu Nwafor de Pencil.

I’ll even add my Kobo like the numerous cents that saw for Obama’s victory in the great States.

Pencil, I’ll also provide you with some HB-pencils for the bill boards- all for good in Anambra State .

Regards.

Eze Osita Patrick.

(a.k.a Pacoamity)