Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Rivers State may face sanctions from Nigeria’s university regulator over concerns that its vice chancellor has remained in an acting capacity for more than five years, raising questions about compliance with federal regulations and governance standards.
The university, owned by the Rivers State government, has been led by Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku as acting vice chancellor since Nov. 18, 2021, when he was appointed by the then governor and visitor to the institution, Nyesom Wike.
Under prevailing regulations, acting appointments are typically limited to six months, renewable once, pending the appointment of a substantive officeholder.
The extended tenure has drawn criticism from academics, students and civil society figures, who say the arrangement contravenes established norms and has gone unaddressed by both the university’s governing council and the National Universities Commission, which oversees higher education in Nigeria.
Several lecturers and students, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they were concerned by what they described as institutional silence on the issue. They accused the university’s leadership of lopsided recruitment and admissions practices, allegations that could not be independently verified.
A Port Harcourt-based rights activist, Comrade Charles Jaja Mietamuno, said the prolonged acting appointment reflected a failure of oversight by both the state government and the NUC. He argued that the regulator should have intervened earlier.
“Allowing someone to act in that role indefinitely is against the very laws that regulate that institution,” Mr. Mietamuno said. “This action will not only weaken governance but also opens the door to instability and loss of public trust.”
A legal practitioner in Port Harcourt, Andrew Okafor, also criticized the situation, noting that the university has reportedly operated without a substantive vice chancellor — and without a deputy vice chancellor — for several years. He questioned why the NUC had not exercised its supervisory authority.
Sources familiar with the matter said political instability in Rivers State may have contributed to delays in appointing a substantive vice chancellor. They said the university’s governing council had not formally advised the current governor and visitor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, to initiate the process.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the NUC is aware of the situation at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education and may issue guidance or sanctions in the coming weeks.
Founded in 2009 under the administration of former Gov. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the university operates campuses in Rumuolumeni, St. John’s and Ndele, and is the only state-owned university of education in the South-South region.
Critics say the prolonged leadership vacuum risks undermining academic standards and the institution’s credibility if left unresolved.
