In the last three years since he emerged on the scene as the 7th substantive Vice-Chancellor of Delta State University, Abraka, Professor Andy Egwunyenga has left no one in doubt about achieving his mission – to lead, inspire and advance the University in all its ramifications. In fact, those who were initially sceptical about his competence and determination to achieve great results and leap frog the university, such misgivings have continued to evaporate as the internationally acclaimed scholar matches his words with concrete and productive actions. The university is the better for it in different areas.
In his mission and
vision statement, the Vice-Chancellor had carefully articulated the critical
areas of need. Acknowledging the competitive nature of university education in
the country, Prof. Egwunyenga had alerted his colleagues to the need to be more
internet savvy. ‘’The University is growing and we must grow with it as regards
the ICT. The staff should also be ICT compliant. This requires hard work and
continuous learning’’, he had noted.
His promise to
lead, inspire and advance the transformation of the university by building an
effective and motivated work force, pursuit of innovation, using ICT,
strengthening of academic units, improving of revenue base and deploying a new
approach to administration based on robust focus on staff and students’ welfare
and open communication has remained on course. He also assured his colleagues
that he would put in place measures that would help the university become the
best state university in the country.
Realizing the
importance of staff and students, he put in administrative structures that would
improve their conditions. At the time of his emergence, the university could be
said to be in a state of ‘’administrative over heat’’ which caused many staff to
be depressed, increasing staff presence at the university medical centre.
Realizing the state of affairs, one of his early decisions was to address cases
of injustice meted out to staff by setting up committees to investigate and
recommend to the administration a proper course of action. Based on the outcomes
of such committees, cases of injustice were expeditiously and satisfactorily
addressed.
Many staff who were
unjustly punished through withholding of promotions, dismissals and other
punishments clearly depicting official highhandedness, were restored. The effect
was instant, as laughter replaced the ‘’weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth’’
that had become their lot. As soon as he addressed the nagging cases of
injustice, Professor Egwunyenga deployed his considerable administrative and
academic prowess to the ‘real’ issues of academic excellence and global
visibility which he hinged on the harnessing of the opportunities of the ICT.
This writer had previously noted how he had directed that ‘’all staff should be
registered with Google Scholar to enhance the university visibility, since
knowledge must be shared to be useful’’. Rather than staff waiting to be
threatened or cajoled, they willingly complied with the Vice-Chancellor’s
directive because they had bought into his vision of a greater DELSU.
Indeed, the
decision paid off handsomely in no time as the university has become more
visible and credible. Its rankings improved rapidly from 78th
position among Nigerian Universities to 38th position and from a
previous 19th position to 7th among state universities.
This writer captured the situation in a widely circulated article in these
words: ‘’A global endorsement of the concerted efforts of the Professor Andy
Egwunyenga administration at the Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria, has
come to light through the just released rankings of 30,000 universities in 200
countries by the famous Ranking Web or Webometrics’’.
That was about six
months into his tenure in mid-2020. He has since then continued to steer the
university in the right direction as attested to by different stakeholders.
Three years down the line, the Professor of Parasitology and public health
consultant, has improved in virtually all aspects of life in the university.
According to the Vice-Chancellor who has a friendly disposition, the
administration has ‘’made tremendous progress with determination to do more’’.
Indeed, the latest
National Universities (NUC) Rankings (2021) of over 200 universities in Nigeria
give credence to the above observation. According to NUC, Delta State University
Abraka is No. 1 State University in knowledge economy in the South-South
geopolitical zone, where it also has the highest number of professors, 3rd
highest ranking state university per capita h-index nationwide, 14th
position among best universities in Nigeria, 4th position among best
state universities in Nigeria, among other encouraging indices of the rapid
transformation of the university.
The astonishing
growth of the university was on display in the last week of April when it
celebrated its 30th Anniversary and 14th Convocation
ceremonies with pomp and pageantry. The university rolled out the drums and red
carpets to a captive and celebratory audience from different parts of the world.
‘’We have a lot to celebrate at 30’’, he told
DELSU
News,
the university’s official magazine. ‘’It is a celebration of Excellence and
success. It is a celebration of the spirit of a people that are determined to
get excellent results’’.
Indeed, all roads
led to DELSU in the last week of April. Some of the highlights of the
celebrations were arts exhibition, presentation of the commemorative book
DELSU at 30, carnival, commissioning
of projects by the Visitor to the university, Sen. (Dr.) Ifeanyi A. Okowa; among
others. The Commemorative lecture was delivered by fiery Kenyan lawyer,
Professor Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba, of the PLO Foundation, who agonized over
the embarrassing level of underdevelopment of Africa. Importantly too, was the
Convocation lecture by His Excellency, Ambassador Professor Ibrahim Agboola
Gambari, CFR, the Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria, who spoke on the
role of education in national development.
In order to enhance
its town and gown harmony, the university conferred Honorary Doctorate Degrees
on HRM Hon Justice Francis Fedode Tabai, a former Pro Chancellor and Chairman of
Council of DELSU and banking mogul, Chief Jim James Ovia, MFR, CON, Founder and
Chairman of the highly successful Zenith Bank. For the first time, the
university appointed two eminent academics as Professor Emeritus, namely
Professor Eric A. Arubayi and Professor Sam Ukala (Post humously). Many have
attributed his giant strides at DELSU to his excellent human relations and a
multi-dimensional experience from which he has harvested. Apart from attaining
the rank of Professor at just 45, he was the pioneer Director of the Institute
of Science Laboratory Technology (ISLT) at DELSU, Chairman, of ASUU-DELSU,
Rector of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, which he turned around, in
addition to membership of national and international organizations.
Professor Nwanne is the Director, Ceremonials,
Information and Public Relations,
Delta State University, Abraka.