Governing Council of the University of Uyo has postponed the appointment of a new chancellor following its inability to reach a consensus on who should take over from the incumbent , Prof. Nyaudo Ndaeyo during its meeting at the weekend.
The council has however decided to appoint an acting Vice Chancellor before the expiration of Prof Ndaeyo by December 1.
Sources privy to the meeting disclosed that the governing council took the decision to “ease tension and to do away with the overbearing influence of the university’s management on who should be the next Vice Chancellor.”
It was further learnt that the management of the university is in support of any of the deputy vice chancellors succeeding the incumbent, a development which is opposed by majority of the academic staff and the university community leaders.
The interview for the selection of the vice chancellor took place during the weekend and one of the front-runners, Prof. Chris Ekong, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences was said to have been tipped to be announced, a development which resulted in congratulatory messages flooding the social media.
However, Ekong described the report as the handiwork of blackmailers saying, “I’m in my house preparing for the interview,” while a senior academic staff member said it was a “deliberate attempt to jeopardise Ekong’s chances.”
The management of the university is reported to be backing any of the two deputy vice chancellors, Antonia Essien and Aniekan Offiong, while Ekong is said to be enjoying the support of the majority of the academic staff and the community.
“We want a clean break from the past, devoid of any influence by the current management in the appointment of the new vice chancellor,’’one of the sources said.
The source also disclosed that the two deputy vice chancellors were not being considered for appointment as acting vice chancellor since they are interested parties in the race of who becomes the new Vice Chancellors.
It was learnt that a top management staff member of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital was being tipped to be appointed in acting capacity until a substantive Vice Chancellor would be appointed.
Investigations, further, have revealed that the appointment of the new Vice Chancellor has split the university community into two camps, while the university’s management is in support of any of the deputy vice chancellors emerging as the new vice chancellor, senior academic staff members are rooting for an appointment based on merit and less of influence from the management which they say would enable the new vice chancellor operate independent-mindedly .
