Governor Willie Obiano has congratulated Professor Charles Egbu on his
emergence as the first black Vice Chancellor of a British University.
Dr Egbu, a Professor of Quantity Surveying, will on November first
assume duties as the Vice Chancellor of Leeds Trinity University in
England.
He is currently the Pro-Vice Chancellor in charge of Education and
Experience at the University of East London, having served as the Dean
of the School of the Built Environment and Architecture of the London
South Bank University and a Senior Academic at the University College,
London.
Governor Obiano described it as a great moment for not only the
government and people of Anambra State but also all Nigerians and
indeed, Africans and Blacks across the globe.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public
Enlightenment Mr C- Don Adinuba, Governor Obiano said that Professor
Egbu’s emergence is a game changer in the history of higher education
in a conservative society like the United Kingdom where only last
January the University’s Minister, Mr Chris Skidmore, decried the fact
that the number of Blacks holding Senior Academic positions in Britain
is officially zero.
Governor Obiano maintained that Professor Egbu reminds all Africans
of when Professor Kenneth Onwuka Dike, another worthy indigene of
Anambra State, became the first African and Black Principal of the
University College, Ibadan, and later emerged the first African and
Black Vice Chancellor of the University, which was established in
1948.
Professor Dike, who graduated First Class in the United Kingdom, just
like Professor Egbu, made the University of Ibadan to become
synonymous with excellence in scholarship and administration
throughout the world.
Governor Obiano stated that Professor Dike discovered early enough the
great promise of such young scholars as Dr Jacob Ade Ajayi, and went
further to ensure their rapid rise, despite protests from certain
quarters.
Governor Obiano stated that the records which these scholars made in
various disciplines and endeavours vindicated Professor Dike’s
actions, as he went on to become a distinguished Professor at Harvard
University until he was asked to return home to serve his fatherland.
Governor Obiano expressed confidence that Professor Egbu, who hails
from Abatete in Idemili North Local Government Area, will excel in his
new role and consequently Market Anambra State to the International
Community in a most uncanny way.
