The Federal University Gusau in Zamfara State has denied claims that Bernard Odoh, recently appointed as Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), held any academic title or position at their institution.
This clarification comes amid reports suggesting that Odoh had achieved professorship at Federal University Gusau around 2015.
University officials confirmed that Odoh was neither an employee, nor a pioneer head of the Department of Geology, nor did he teach any courses there. Additionally, the Federal Ministry of Education has declared his appointment as Vice-Chancellor null and void, citing procedural violations and a lack of consultation with aggrieved parties within NAU.
The announcement from Federal University Gusau came in response to an inquiry by Kingsley Awuka Esq., of Awuka, Okafor & Partners. In a letter dated October 28, 2024, the university, in response to the request, clarified that Odoh had no association with the institution.
The university reiterated this stance in a follow-up letter on November 6, 2024, signed by Mal. Shehu Suleiman on behalf of the Registrar, correcting minor errors from the initial response.
The correspondence affirmed that Odoh never served as a faculty member nor a head of department at the institution.
Odoh’s recent appointment as Vice-Chancellor by NAU’s Governing Council on October 29, 2024, has led to widespread protest. NAU’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has filed a legal challenge, disputing the selection process.
A letter from the Federal Ministry of Education, dated November 1, and signed by Mrs. R. G. Ilyasu on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, reiterated the ministry’s directive that no appointments should proceed without reconciliation with internal factions.
The ministry emphasized that NAU’s Council proceeded with Odoh’s appointment in disregard of this directive and advised that the appointment be put on hold pending the arrival of a new Minister of Education. The letter was also sent to the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Insiders have suggested that Odoh’s appointment was politically motivated, with backing from influential members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) despite questions regarding his qualifications.
Documents obtained revealed that Odoh was promoted to Associate Professor in 2022 but had not held key administrative roles such as department head, dean, or director. Additionally, Odoh has not supervised any PhD candidates, which has led many to question his qualifications for the vice-chancellorship.
Critics argue that Odoh, who served as Secretary to the State Government in Ebonyi State from 2015 to 2018 and ran as the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate in the 2023 gubernatorial election, does not meet NAU’s criteria for Vice-Chancellor.
University rules reportedly require candidates to have held the rank of full professor for at least a decade. One source highlighted discrepancies in Odoh’s qualifications, noting that while his name appears on the university website as “Professor Bernard Odoh,” he is also listed as a “Reader” (Associate Professor) in the Department of Geophysics. The source added that Odoh’s current salary aligns with that of a reader, further casting doubt on his eligibility for the role.
