Dr Nkem Okeke
By Mimi Chiadikaobi
First female Professor in Mass Communication in Nigeria and Sub-Sahara Africa, Stella Chinyere Okunna 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.
Prof Okunna who is at present ,the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Paul University, Awka, made the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Awka on Friday.
She described the appointment as timely and home-coming for Okeke who has taught at 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.
She expects that Okeke having good knowledge of the school should support effectively the acting Vice Chancellor to stabilise the school.
According to her, Okeke needs to bring to table policies that will aide the Professor of Law, Carol Arinze Umobi to pilot the affairs of the school creditably.
She noted that the Acting VC is the daughter of the soil and as such needs every support to succeed in her leadership journey of the institution.
Prof Okunna said that Dr Okeke is grounded all round to leave a lasting legacy while the position lasted.
She noted that Okeke, as a former Senior lecturer in the department of Economic, former head of its department, a former State Commissioner for Economic planning, Works and Transport, respectively under former Governor Peter Obi is well equipped to do the job effectively.
Report has it that Okeke has been shortlisted amongst members appointed by President Tinubu into UNIZIK Governing Council.
He hails from Enugwu-Ukwu community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra.
Okeke was born in Zaria on January 13, 1960 and is married to Chief Oby and they 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.
Dr 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 Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2021.
Mr Josiah Mbachi, an indigene of Enugwu-Ukwu community said that the appointiment is well deserved 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 for the team to effectively push the institution to greater citadel people will rush in to study in a befitting atmosphere.
Mr Okechukwu Obenta a seasoned journalist said that Okeke is a refined gentle man 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, including the leadership tussle which he said is one big problem to completely resolve.
