Ahaneku’s giant strides at UNIZIK

The environment at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (NAU) otherwise known as UNIZIK is currently exciting. The University has never had it so good since it was established. UNIZIK came into being as an offshoot of the defunct Anambra State University of Technology (ASUTECH) which was es-tablished through Law No. 7 of July 30, 1980 by the Government of the old Anam¬bra State and operated as a multi-campus university, with campuses in Abakiliki, Enugu, Awka and Nnewi.
In 1991, following the split of the old Anambra State into Anambra and Enugu states, the Awka and Nnewi campuses of the former ASUTECH were merged to form Azikiwe Uni¬versity by the Anambra State Edict No.5 of November 26 1991. Nnamdi Azikiwe University was taken over by the Federal Government by Decree No. 34 of July 15, 1992 during the admin¬istration of Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife. In other words, UNIZIK was established in 1992 but the institution is today living to its true meaning.
Certainly, the institution’s present status as a leading University in Nigeria is by no means accidental. It is made possible by the drive, mission and vision of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Eberendu Ahaneku. In his one year of administering the University, Prof. Ahaneku has really proved the Governing Council of the institution right for the great confidence reposed on him by choosing him ahead of the other contenders who vied for the number one position exactly one year ago. In his maiden address to the staff and management of the University shortly after he took over from his predecessor, Ahaneku stated that he would ensure a well defined ideal culture and institutional character in the University by promoting the institution’s values which as enshrined in the motto of the school as Discipline, Self reliance and Excellence. He charged the staff and management of the University to rededicate them¬selves to commitment, ideals and be focused in their services to the institution, to always regard themselves as models in the society.
In many ways than one, the VC’s charge was well received by the staff and management while the students are already reciprocating the good gestures. Based on his pledge to pursue excellence in academics, sci¬ence, technology and agricultural centres aimed at reducing unemployment in the society and producing well groomed graduates, Prof Ahaneku has steadily been leading UNIZIK to scores on enviable heights in academic glories as well as improving on the physical de¬velopment of the institution. For instance, under his super-vision, the Biotechnology Centre of the school now produces distilled water. The centre has commenced the production of distilled water and ice laboratory for pharmaceutical purposes. It is still within this period that a student of UNIZIK, 21 year old Sandra Muna Okorie won the Most Beautiful Face in Nigeria and it was highly celebrated both in the university community and beyond. While that euphoria was still on, UNIZIK under Ahaneku recorded another feat as a staff, Ogboso E. Ogboso took first po¬sition in African Arts Exhibition held at Eagle Square, Maitama Sule Abuja between July 18 and 24 2014. With these developments, the gate was opened for a deluge of beautiful performanc¬es from UNIZIK students and members of staff.
The entire UNIZIK communi¬ty was upbeat as the Mechanical Engineering Department made a great breakthrough in construction and research by constructing a mobile vehicle named Autozik car. While viewing the wonder car, the VC, expressed happiness over the breakthrough. It was with the same excitement that greeted Dr. Dan Chukwu who became member of the Council of Historical Society of Nigeria just as UNIZIK Research Team took first position in Nigeria As¬sociation of Petroleum Geologists Competition. This exceptional feat qualified the UNIZIK team for the Imperial Barel Award held in March this year.
On his part, the VC has en¬sured that the process of admission into the University is now very effective and efficient. His words: “You would have noticed that we have upgraded our ad¬mission style and processes to what I consider the 21st Century Approach whereby we, not just depended on the old analogue style of evolution”. Most things in the university have being digitalized. Following JAMB’s release of results, the university applied the same measure JAMB used in screening their candidates for the JAMB exams, by deploying the level of technology; the Biometric capturing used that to authenticate the candi¬dates who presented themselves for admission in the 2014/2015 sessions. When more than 405 candidates abandoned the exams and ran away; those who came impersonate.
About 88 candidates were arrested and handed over to the security agents who processed and charged some of them to court on the basis of exam misconduct”. Truly admissions into UNIZIK follows due process and are or-derly conducted. Ahaneku has also done very well in the Con¬tinuing Education Programme and the result has been very won¬derful as traders and artisans can now be differentiated from the real students who have come to the University to read and study. The VC has equally been practising what he is teaching the same way he has been rewarding ex¬cellence and punishing failures and those who promote laziness.
On physical infrastructure, Ahaneku is struggling with com¬pletion of the university main gate which was awarded by his predecessor and he has made a pledge to complete and commis¬sion other structures like the Faculty of Arts Building and Science Village including the Main Entrance very soon.
The VC made the following assertion shortly after he was elected as the administrator of federal institution: “This institution, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, is named after the legendary and Great Zik of Africa, the man who was adjudged as Nigeria’s greatest political Evangelist. Zik was an African statesman, path¬finder of the Nigerian national¬ism and a proud Blackman.
In other words, UNIZIK should be standard bearer in quality education and our aim is to ensure that this university is graded as the best in Nigeria, one of the first 10 in Africa and among the world’s leading institutions of higher learning”. In¬deed, the VC, Ahaneku has been living up to expectation since he was voted the University’s helmsman almost one year now.
For instance, under his ad¬ministration, Ahaneku started his dream plans on making the University an enviable citadel of learning and one of the best not just in the country but on the continent. To this effect, the VC commenced the completion of the Arthur Eze Main Avenue of the Campus and the Emeka Of-for road. These roads have been asphalted. With these accom¬plishments, his next four years in the University will really make Institution one of the best, not just in Nigeria but in Africa.
.Chidi Ebere writes from Awka.