A fresh leadership storm is brewing at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) as the institution inches toward the end of Vice Chancellor Prof. Nyaudo Ndaeyo’s tenure on December 1. What should have been a smooth handover has instead turned into a tug-of-war between the university’s Senate and its Governing Council, both of which remain sharply divided over who should step in as acting Vice Chancellor.
Findings indicate that the final round of interviews held last week did little to calm the waters. Rather than produce a clear successor, the process reportedly ended “inconclusive,” leaving both bodies entrenched in their positions.
Sources within the Senate say Prof. Ndaeyo has quietly thrown his weight behind two of his deputies who faced the interview panel.
One of them, Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Anthonia Essien, was said to have been recommended by the outgoing VC to serve in acting capacity pending the conclusion of the appointment process.
But Essien’s alleged withdrawal from the race has complicated matters further. A Senate insider insists the Governing Council “is not buying it.”
According to the source, “The outgoing VC imposed her as a recommendation from the Senate to the Governing Council. But the Governing Council will not accept her since she is already in the race for VCship.”
The source added that the Council has not officially been informed of her supposed withdrawal—and even if they were, such a move would likely be dismissed.
“In any case, withdrawal from the race cannot be possible after she had attended the interview and screening exercise. She would be seen as a biased person,” the source said.
With the deadline approaching and no consensus in sight, the Governing Council is reportedly weighing alternative fallback options.
According to the insider, the Council may opt for either the Provost of the College of Health Sciences or the Chairman of the Committee of Deans to steer the institution in acting capacity.
“It’s likely the Governing Council will announce one of them as acting VC within the next few days,” the source hinted.
Efforts to reach the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Blossom Okorie, were unsuccessful, as her phone remained switched off.
