By Mimi Chiadikaobi
Prof Stella Okunna, First Female professor in Mass Communication in Nigeria, has commended the appointment of Anambra Former Deputy Governor, Dr Nkemakonam Okeke, into the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, by President Bola Tinubu.
Okunna who is presently ,The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Paul University, Awka,made the commendation in an interview with The Newsmen in Awka on Friday
She described the appointment as timely and home coming for Okeke who have taught in the University for decades before venturing into the political space.
She said that Okeke has a responsibility to use his good knowledge of the university to profer policies that will address the incessant leadership crisis in the school.
” I expect that Okeke having good knowledge of the school should support effectively the acting Vice Chancellor to stabilise the school.
” Okeke need to bring to table policies that will aide the Professor of Law, Carol Arinze Umobi to pilot the affairs of the school creditably.
” She is the daughter of the soil of hha land as such needs every support to succeed in her leadership journey of the institution.” She said.
Okunna said that is grounded all round to leave a lasting legacy while the position lasted.
She said that Okeke Formerly a senoir lecturer in the department of Economic, former head of its department, a former state commissioner for Economic planning, works and Transport respectively under Former Gov Peter Obi is well equipped to do the job effectively.
Okeke was listed amongst members appointed by the President into Unizik governing council.
He hails from Enugwu-Ukwu Community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra.
reports that Okeke was born in Zaria on January 13, 1960 and is married to Chief Oby and are blessed with children.
Okeke attended Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) Onitsha and St Finbars’s College Akoka, Lagos and later gained admission to University of Wisvonsin Madison USA in 1978.
Okeke served as a deputy governor of Anambra from March 2014 to March 2017 with Former governor Chief Willie Obiano.
He became the first Anambra deputy governor to be re elected in 2017 governorship election in the state.however he moved from All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to All Progressive Congress (APC)in 2021
Mr Josiah Mbachi, an indigene of Enugwu-Ukwu Community said that the appointiment is well deserving as Okeke is grounded to handle the position.
Mbachi said that Okeke has gained enough knowledge locally and internationally and believes he will put sound ideas on the table.
Mr Okechukwu Obenta a seasoned journalist said that Okeke is a refined gentleman and very intelligent to know the soul of the institution and will definitely work hard to redeem the image of the school as it has been on public domain for a wrong reason, the leadership tussle is one big problem to completely resolve.
