Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka has appointed Prof. Ugochukwu Anyaehie as its new Vice-Chancellor, following approval by the institution’s Governing Council. His tenure will commence on 19 November and will run for five years.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr Olugbenga Kukoyi, confirmed the appointment on Sunday in Abuja, noting that Anyaehie emerged after a competitive and transparent selection exercise.
A professor of Physiology and Clinical Measurements, Anyaehie has spent almost 20 years teaching at the University of Nigeria’s College of Medicine, Enugu Campus. He replaces Prof. Carol Arinze-Umobi, who has overseen the university in an interim capacity after the previous Vice-Chancellor’s appointment was rescinded.
In his acceptance remarks, Anyaehie pledged to elevate the institution’s profile and push it towards the top tier of Nigerian universities.
“I am confident that within six months, UNIZIK will make remarkable improvements in its ranking. As Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport stands among the best in Nigeria, so too should UNIZIK be among the country’s leading universities,” he said.
Born and trained in Nigeria, Anyaehie earned his medical degree from Abia State University in 1998, followed by a Master’s in 2004, a PhD in 2009, and a Master’s in Public Health in 2011. His previous leadership roles include serving as Deputy Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, and Acting Provost of the College of Medicine at Imo State University.
