THE House of Representatives committee on tertiary education has summoned Professor Carol Arinze- Umobi, acting Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, to the national assembly to clarify some of the alleged irregularities in project execution at the university.
But in a statement, Dr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, Special Advisor to the Vice Chancellor on Information and Public Relations, expressed disapproval of what he called false reports that suggested Umobi was invited due to subpar project management.
To avoid doubt, Ojukwu stated: “On Tuesday, August 13, 2025, the House of Representatives committee on tertiary education visited the university. The chairman made it very plain that certain of the materials given to the committee were not suitable. “As a result, the committee called off its meeting and invited the Acting Vice Chancellor and pertinent officials to the National Assembly for additional discussions and clarifications.
What they’re saying
“The projects under investigation by MPs have nothing to do with the interim Vice Chancellor, who was only appointed a month ago and has decided not to begin on capital projects because she only has six months to stay.
“It must be remembered that these initiatives and data were ongoing projects that began in 2023 or earlier. “The current acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Carol Arinze Umobi, was appointed by the Governing Council on July 22, 2024.
“She has not started any new projects and is not in a hurry to do so because she only has six months to serve before the Governing Council appoints a formal Vice Chancellor.
“Even though the data and the projects for which she has been invited to the National Assembly were inherited from the previous administration, the current acting Vice Chancellor will honour the invitation of the committee on tertiary education in the interest of the University.”
“According to Ojukwu, the Acting Vice Chancellor praised the lawmakers for their oversight visit and promised full collaboration to improve administration in the country’s higher institutions.
Bottom Line
The context provided by Dr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, the Special Advisor to the Vice Chancellor, is crucial.
Professor Arinze-Umobi’s recent appointment and the fact that the projects in question were initiated before her tenure suggest that the issues under scrutiny predate her leadership.
This is important for understanding the nature of the inquiry and avoiding misattributions of responsibility.
