By James Anazodo
The Nigerian media space has recently been awash with news about prospects for the appointment of new Vice Chancellors for some Universities, notably the premier University of Nigeria, Nsukka and of course, the estimable Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka all in South East, Nigeria. No doubt, the tenures of the Acting Vice-Chancellors appointed a few months ago to superintendent the affairs of both institutions by their Governing Councils pending the appointment of new helmsmen for the institutions are winding up.
Whereas, the University of Nigeria is mainly in the news following the advertisements to fill the soon-to-be vacant position of Vice-Chancellor and essentially the qualifications that must be possessed by a new occupant for the said position, Nnamdi Azikiwe University on the other hand had been in the news far much earlier with lots of theatrics over alleged exclusions of a section of the academic community and now lately; some unsubstantiated allegations of poor qualifications of some touted or preferred candidates for the top ivory tower’s top job.
For instance, it was astonishing for many who read a report of the withdrawal of services by the Medical and Dental Council Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, UNIZIK Chapter over what it termed the deliberate exclusion of it’s members from participating in the VC-ship race due to the age-long controversy of academic qualification rating of it’s members.
Reports in some sections of the media posits that the association’s leadership feels enraged that it’s member’s Fellowship certifications is not regarded by the Governing Council as an equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D certificate in it’s advertisement for the position of the Vice-Chancellor.
Specifically, the Secretary of the Association, Dr. Sunday Oriji, had recently informed newsmen that they withdrew their services to protest the exclusion of their members from vying for the vacant vice-chancellorship position of the school.
Oriji said an advertisement published by the authorities of the school, had notified the public of the vacancy in the vice chancellorship position, listing requirements that excluded medical professors from vying for the position.
Consequently, the medical school of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, comprising the faculties of Medicine and Basic Clinical Sciences, Nnewi Campus, has remained non-functional for over to weeks now, following the withdrawal of services by clinical lecturers, who are members of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria.
The medical school is the arm of the institution, charged with the teaching and training of undergraduate students of medicine, both in theory, in clinics and in theatre.
It bears reminiscing that the ruckus being stirred in UNIZIK began when the Governing Council ably led by Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe appointed an Acting Vice-Chancellor for the institution, Professor Carol Ume-Obi to replace Professor Joseph Ikechebelu who without the Council’s input had held vehemently to the position in Acting capacity for over two months without formal transition. Sources in the institution affirms that he was never officially appointed as Acting VC by the Governing Council, which holds the exclusive power to make such appointments.
In other words, Professor Ikechebelu merely oversaw the office in temporal capacity following the directives of the National Universities Commission (NUC) pending inauguration of the Governing Council. Of course, this scenario undoubtedly formed the background for both the tension and controversies that now seems to be rocking that temple of knowledge.
A critical dissection of some of the issues at the front burner, particularly the lingering protestations from the Medical Faculty indicates that the NUC as the academic regulatory body has often reiterated it’s stance on the need for medical doctors in the academics to acquire Master’s and doctorate degrees to enable them attain the rank of professors.
Without doubt, there have been an age-long controversy over the need for medical doctors to acquire Master’s and doctorate degrees following the acquisition of medical fellowships.
Recently, a Committee on the Status of Medical Education in Nigerian Universities met with the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Professor Abubakar Rasheed, to present to him an interim report on their assigned task. The team which was led by the NUC Deputy Executive Secretary (DES), Academics, Dr. Noel Abiodun Saliu, had been informed by the Executive Secretary stated that the Committee still has much work to do in areas such as: Basic Medical, Allied Health, Dentistry as well as Basic Clinical and Clinical Sciences as they were all part of medicine.
Dr. Salihu had reiterated that the recently introduced Doctor of Medicine programme was for an entirely different purpose from the original medicine by fellowship programme and “therefore, submitted that one can never replace the other”.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke had in an interview in 2021 waded into the debate when he clarified that Medical Professionals in the academic cannot regard a fellowship qualification as an academic qualification.
According to him, “In the medical profession, they are saying it is medical fellowship but there are many people who have PhD in medical science. The two are not the same. One is a professional certification or qualification while the other is an academic qualification. For example, ICAN is a professional qualification and a professional qualification is not the same thing as PhD; they are completely different”, he insisted.
The question posed by many who have followed this ancient loggerhead being stirred mainly by Professors in the Faculty of Medical Sciences in UNIZIK is; Why the fuse? It is now on record and sadly too, that the MDCAN UNIZIK Chapter is the first in Nigeria’s education history to take the battle to ugly extent of denying students knowledge in pursuit of what had long been settled by the nation’s regulator of the ivory towers- the National Universities Commission, NUC following it’s over three weeks industrial action.
This is despite the assurances of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Amb. Greg Mbadiwe who recently reaffirmed the Council and its members’ dedication and commitment towards contributing significantly to the institution’s growth and development in line with the ideals of the Great Zik of Africa.
The Council has also assured of promoting peace, sanity and progress in the university as well as its highest exhibition of professionalism and transparency in the VC selection process.
Above all else, the members of the Governing Council are men of proven sterling pedigree and impeccable character. The Council should therefore be allowed to translate its lofty visions for the university into reality because they mean well for all. Let those fanning the embers of discord and unnecessary tension desist forthwith.
On the other hand, it is also wisdom to suggest that the naysayers should open their minds to be receptive to the innovations the Council is bringing to the university. For the sake of peace and amiable flow of teaching and learning in the ivory tower, stakeholders, interest groups and interested parties and all others should embrace the wind of change heralding a new dawn at Nnamdi AzIkiwe University.
This is in line with the vision of the Founding Fathers of the University towards having an institution that would serve as a springboard for “socio-economic, scientific and technological revival in Nigeria whose motto would always rotate on the wheels of “Discipline, Self-Reliance and Excellence”.
It is also commendable that the in response to the concerns raised by the Medical teachers, the UNIZIK management had, in a press release signed by Dr. Emma Ojukwu, Special Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor on Public Relations, called on members of MDCAN to approach the National Universities Commission (NUC) to ascertain whether their medical fellowship is equivalent to a PhD. The university also appealed to them to return to work, as their strike action is negatively impacting healthcare delivery.
The statement further disclosed that, “The Governing Council of the university, in its 131st regular meeting held on Thursday, September 26, 2024, considered the issue of the PhD requirement for applicants for the position of Vice-Chancellor of Unizik and decided that MDCAN should send a delegation of its members to the National Universities Commission (NUC) to ascertain if a medical fellowship is equivalent to a PhD degree.”
In a nutshell, it is now clear to all and sundry, including those arguing about qualifications of some candidates or lack of it that the minimum requirement to apply for the position of Vice-Chancellor is a Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D Degree and not even whether one has attained the rank of a Professor or not. May peace guide the ivory towers in their search for new Vice-Chancellors that would pilot it’s affairs for at least the next five years.
As an English author and critic, David John Lodge puts it; “Universities are the cathedrals of the modern age. They shouldn’t have to justify their existence by utilitarian criteria.” Our ivory towers should not lose focus of it’s core existential values and principles all in the struggle or pursuit of leadership!
. Anazodo, a Researcher and Academic enthusiast wrote from Awka, Anambra State.
