In an era when Nigerian university system is facing difficult time in global rating and acceptance, it beats our imagination and creates sense of serious discomfort that a group called Nkpokotenu Nsukka, is more interested in promoting clannish agenda. Why should any group by whatever name called be more concerned with this seemingly dangerous sentiment without considering the implications of such position on the university?
University of Nigeria, Nsukka as the first indigenous university to be fully owned by Nigeria should by matter of right belong to all Nigerians irrespective of where it is situated. UNN is founded and funded to provide academic and research leadership not only to Nigeria but to the entire Africa and beyond, so why should the so called Nkpokotenu Nsukka be more interested in reducing the supposedly global status of UNN to clannish agenda?
Rather than focusing on providing cutting edge research in solving the avalanche of socio-political and economic challenges in our contemporary world and demanding for globally recognised candidate to emerge as the Vice Chancellor of the University, this group, which is purposely and solely founded to promote this single ugly agenda is only concerned with narrow minded and dangerous clannish agenda.
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, supposedly meant to be the leading hub of intellectual engagements should not be reduced to meaningless Emilokanism. Where in the world is the position of a university Vice Chancellor given solely on account of place of birth of the candidate? What has happened to merit and excellence which is the hallmark of the university system anywhere in the world? Which selection model for the position of a university Vice Chancellor is Nkpokotenu Nsukka canvassing for their absolutely parochial position? Why should being an indigene of Nsukka Cultural Zone be the major item to be considered on the-would-be Vice Chancellor’s Curriculum Vitae?
We are strongly of the opinion that the search for the next UNN’s Vice Chancellor should focus on a candidate with global status, capacity, capability and competence to restore the dignity of the University in order TO RESTORE THE DIGNITY OF MAN which is the core essence that advised its establishment. The search should not be reduced to dangerous clannish sentiments that will deplete the fortune of the university. We dare to submit that if at the end of the search, the search team arrived at a candidate with global status, capacity, capability, competence and intimidating Curriculum Vitae who coincidentally is from Nsukka Cultural Zone, we will be satisfied. To us, it is immaterial where the candidate for the next Vice Chancellor comes from, what will interest us is the repositioning of the University for global reckoning and competitiveness. We are more interested in the original ideals that advised its birth.
Again, where was Nkpokotenu Nsukka or similar groups from Nsukka when their son was the Governor of Enugu State during the selection process for the last substantive Vice Chancellor of the University? Sleeping? Why were they not loud in asking their son then to undertake the task of securing UNN VCship for them? Or have they forgotten that both governors Nnamani and Chime did same for Enugu State? Oh, Governor Ugwuanyi was a PDP man who did not have access to the APC led Federal Government. The governor of the state of the last substantive Vice Chancellor was in APC right? So what has changed now that the group is calling out Governor Mbah to take on the task of securing the position for Nsukka Cultural Zone? Was there any time Nsukka people were scattered that you are now gathering them by promoting clannish sentiments capable of isolating them within and outside UNN.
Besides, let assume for the purpose of this position, we accept the principle of rotation. It is on record that University of Nigeria, Nsukka with two campuses (Nsukka and Enugu) was originally established by the former Eastern Region which is today made up of nine states. If we further narrow it down to the present geopolitical zone composition, it now belongs to South East. It is pertinent for Nkpokotenu Nsukka to know that out of the five states of present South East of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, only Ebonyi and Imo indigenes are yet to occupy the   position of UNN Vice Chancellor. Should cultural considerations take precedence over state? Apart from the fact that one of the campuses of UNN is located at Nsukka, what have been the contributions of the town to the development of the University? Should Enugu Cultural Zone also demand the position of the Vice Chancellor too? Or are they not the host community of UNEC? Then Ituku and Ozalla people in both Agwu and Nkanu Cultural Zones should also demand the positions of CMD and CMAC of UNTH. What a logic?
We consider the call and position of Nkpokotenu Nsukka highly divisive, ridiculous and dangerous to the development and growth of UNN. No university should sacrifice merit and excellence on the altar of clannish sentiments as being promoted by this group if it wants to be globally relevant. Recruitment process at all levels should be geared towards attracting the best to the University and not based on any mundane sentiments. University system should prioritise quality, merit, capacity far and above clannish agenda.
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Prof. OKORO and Dr. OKECHUKWU sent this piece from Nsukka, Enugu State.
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