The Federal Government has appointed Prof. Lucian Chukwu as the substantive Vice Chancellor of Admiralty University, Ibuzor, Delta State, The Positive Voice confirms.
Chukwu, a Professor of Marine Biology and the current Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services) at the University of Lagos, emerged as the top candidate in a rigorous selection process. The announcement was made on Saturday by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, through the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo.
This announcement follows a dramatic turn of events after the university’s Registrar, Isaac Mankilik, declared Prof. Christopher Ogbogbo as the new VC on Friday. His declaration, which caught many by surprise, was swiftly dismissed by the Chairman of the Governing Council, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba (retd.), who described it as unauthorized.
Ezeoba clarified that only the Governing Council Chairman holds the authority to announce a Vice Chancellor, making Mankilik’s declaration invalid.
“A Vice Chancellor’s appointment follows due process, and no individual can single-handedly override the Federal Government’s decision. The rightful appointment stands,” Ezeoba affirmed.
To ensure a fair and transparent process, the university engaged KPMG, a globally recognized consulting firm, to oversee the recruitment of 52 candidates who vied for the position.
Documents reviewed by The Positive Voice indicate that Chukwu scored 83.41%, securing the top spot, while Ogbogbo followed with 72.5%.
Despite the structured process, some council members reportedly resisted Chukwu’s selection, favoring Ogbogbo instead. An insider revealed that an unofficial meeting was held where Ogbogbo was declared the VC-designate, despite not being the highest scorer.
“The standard process was clear— the highest-scoring candidate should be appointed. However, some members pushed for an alternative, leading to confusion,” the source explained.
Following the internal wrangling, the Federal Government reaffirmed its stance on merit-based leadership, confirming Chukwu’s five-year tenure effective February 28, 2025.
While the appointment is now official, The Positive Voice gathered that Chukwu had yet to receive his appointment letter at the time of reporting. Attempts to reach him for confirmation remained unsuccessful.
