By Michael Ezenwata
The Vice Chancellor, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Prof. Kate Omenugha has promised to lift the University’s overall performance ranking among the first best 10 universities in Nigeria and first best one thousand universities in the world after the completion of her tenure in office.
Prof. Omenugha gave the assurance at a press conference at the Igbariam campus of the University ahead of its 16th Convocation Ceremony.
According to the Vice Chancellor, the three strategies driving her vision and mission statement namely values, viability and visibility are being squarely addressed to lift the Ivory Tower to enviable heights.
She highlighted the innovation in the University anthem as one of the plus in its value re orientation strategy, signing of Memoranda of Understanding with some universities in USA, UK and governments as one the plus in its viability strategy and showcasing the institution beyond the shores of Anambra State through its digitalization strategy to actualize its visibility vision and mission statement.
Prof. Omenugha unleashed some of the blueprint of her administration to include the building of a university kitchen to expand its economic base, foster its partnership with TETFUND for the fencing of the University, set up a business school in the University to practicalize entrepreneurship, make COOU campus radio station a competitive broadcast outfit, strengthen its post graduate school, discipline its erring staff, and enhance Its staff welfare anchored on rewarding well behaved staff with 25% bonuses of their salaries at the end of every year among others.
She emphasized the passion of the university for environmental sustainability which violation in the event of any student found littering the school environment will lead to his or her suspension.
The VC expressed delight in the upsurge in students enrolment in the school with the Nursing Discipline taking the lead in subscription followed by Computer Science, Mass Communication 5th, among others.
She expressed concern that disciplines such as Fishery, Aquaculture and Crop Science are among the least sort out for in students enrolment and urged that intending students should go for them to be self employed after their graduation.
Prof. Omenugha commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for the impact his administration has made in the University toward revamping the Uli campus of the University, in the ongoing building of its entrance gate, rehabilitating the 4.2km road in the university which is at the asphalting stage, sinking of water boreholes and water reticulation in the campus and other works which upon completion, will make it the best campus in Nigeria.
She further thanked the governor for repairing the vandalized sub station at the Igbariam campus of the university, and providing a transformer at the College of Medicine situated at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Awka campus.
Prof. Omenugha also commended the Provost of the College of Medicine Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Awka campus, Prof. Law Ikeako for his masterful leadership vision which has elevated the status of the college.
The VC further acknowledged the efforts of the Governor’s wife Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo for impacting positively on the lives of women being trained in some skills acquisition.
She outlined some of the activities lined up for the 16th Convocation Ceremony of the university to include the celebration of its founder’s/ heritage day/4th Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu memorial lecture to be delivered on the 22nd of April 2026 by the Polish Ambassador to Nigeria His Excellency Michal Cypan and European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS His Excellency Govtier Mgnot, engagement day with the students of the university on April 23, the Convocation lecture to be delivered on April 24 and the grand finale, the Convocation Ceremony on April 25.
The VC described the event as the first ever diplomatic convocation of the COOU.
Ezenwata is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
