Abuja, NIGERIA — A group of distinguished professors has formally petitioned Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Adamu Adamu, calling for a thorough investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the appointment of Prof. Stella Ngozi Lemchi as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education (AIFUE), Owerri. The petition, signed by Professors Kingsley O. Ikebudu and Joshua E. Umeifekwem, has raised serious concerns about the qualifications of Dr. Lemchi and the processes followed by the university’s Governing Council in making the appointment.
The petitioners argue that Dr. Lemchi’s appointment was fundamentally flawed, with allegations pointing to her questionable qualifications and the alleged bias exhibited by the Governing Council under the leadership of Senator Joy Emodi. According to the petition, Prof. Lemchi was initially appointed as Acting Vice-Chancellor, a position that the professors claim she was not qualified to hold. The petitioners contend that her initial appointment was itself irregular and that this set a dangerous precedent, making her subsequent appointment as the substantive Vice-Chancellor legally and ethically questionable.
One of the most serious allegations raised in the petition is that Prof. Lemchi obtained her first professorship from Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, despite never having been a member of the academic staff at the institution. This claim is at the heart of the petitioners’ concerns, as they argue that the granting of a professorship without clear eligibility undermines the integrity of the academic system and raises questions about the legitimacy of her academic credentials.
The professors also allege that Prof. Lemchi’s promotion to the rank of professor at AIFUE was conducted in an irregular manner. They claim that the promotion process, which also saw 14 other chief lecturers promoted to professorial ranks, was carried out in direct violation of the National Universities Commission (NUC) guidelines. According to the petition, the Governing Council’s actions in promoting Prof. Lemchi and others were not only unjustified but were also indicative of a wider pattern of misconduct.
The petitioners are particularly alarmed by the fact that Prof. Lemchi now holds two professorships—one from Imo State University and the other from AIFUE, both of which were awarded in the same year, 2024. This, the petitioners argue, is highly unusual and raises concerns about the legitimacy of her academic credentials and the transparency of the promotion process.
Another point of contention is the manner in which Prof Lemchi was appointed as Acting Vice-Chancellor and subsequently elevated to the position of substantive Vice-Chancellor. The petitioners argue that her appointment to the acting role gave her an unfair advantage over other qualified candidates, creating an uneven playing field during the selection process for the substantive Vice-Chancellor. This, they say, is reminiscent of a similar incident at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, where a non-qualified individual was initially appointed as Vice-Chancellor but was later dismissed along with the entire Governing Council.
The professors also allege that the Governing Council did not provide a fair and transparent process for all candidates seeking the position of Vice-Chancellor. According to the petition, the Governing Council’s decision to appoint Prof. Lemchi was influenced by bias and favoritism, rather than a fair evaluation of all applicants based on merit and qualifications. This, they argue, not only undermines the credibility of the university’s leadership but also damages the reputation of AIFUE as a respected academic institution.
In light of these allegations, the petitioners are urging the Minister of Education to intervene and launch a full investigation into the appointment process. They are calling for Prof. Lemchi’s appointment as substantive Vice-Chancellor to be nullified, citing the various irregularities they have identified in her promotion and appointment. Furthermore, they are requesting that the Minister take decisive action to dissolve the current Governing Council, whose actions, they claim, have jeopardized the academic integrity and reputation of AIFUE.
The petition has been sent to key stakeholders, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, with copies also forwarded to the office of the Vice-President. The petitioners are hoping that the relevant authorities will take swift action to restore integrity to the appointment process at AIFUE and ensure that the university remains a center of academic excellence.
As the controversy surrounding Prof. Lemchi’s appointment unfolds, all eyes are now on the Ministry of Education and other relevant bodies to address the concerns raised by the petitioners and ensure that the principles of fairness and transparency guide future appointments at Nigerian universities.
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