HIS EMINENCE, FRANCIS CARDINAL PETER OKPALEKE
Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia
Ekwulobia, Anambra State, Nigeria
Your Eminence,
It is on record that Msgr. Prof. John Bosco Akam, inspired by a profound Catholic vision, established Tansian University to serve the people of Anambra State and beyond, rooted firmly in the principles of faith, academic excellence, and selfless service to humanity. During his lifetime, he devoted his energy and intellect to ensuring that the institution remained under proper stewardship—entrusted to reliable hands, to the religious community he founded, the Missionary Servants of the Church, also known as the Missionary Sons of Tansi, and to a select group of dedicated collaborators who shared his commitment to moral education and the social advancement of youth.
Msgr. Akam’s aspiration was clear: to create a university that would stand as a beacon of Catholic intellectual culture, providing a moral compass for the younger generation while contributing to national development through sound scholarship and service. His dream was that the institution would not only thrive academically but also uphold the Church’s ethical values, serving as a bridge between faith and reason, spiritual integrity and scientific pursuit. It was in this spirit that he involved trustworthy individuals and benefactors in the University’s founding, among whom were distinguished figures such as Dr Peter Ejikeme—the sole surviving member of the Missionary Servants of the Church, which remains the legally recognised proprietor of Tansian University—together with Chief Sam Obaji, Dr Andy Uba, Sir Vincent Ofolobe, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, and Dr Eloka Menakaya. These men stood with him in the University’s formative years and should, by every moral and administrative standard, be engaged in any present or future effort to stabilise and reclaim the University’s founding vision.
Tragically, since the passing of Msgr. Akam in 2021, the University has been engulfed by a deepening crisis that has gradually eroded the foundation of his legacy. What was meant to be a citadel of learning anchored on the virtues of truth, faith, and diligence has become mired in legal disputes, financial distress, and a regrettable contest for control. The situation now threatens not only the integrity of the University but also the credibility of Catholic education in our region. It has become evident that unless moral authority and clarity of purpose are swiftly restored, the vision for which Msgr. Akam laboured so tirelessly may be irretrievably lost.
Reports from within the University and from independent observers reveal that a Catholic cleric and lawyer, Rev. Fr. Edwin Obiora, has progressively positioned himself as a self-appointed authority within the institution, making claims and decisions inconsistent with the governance structure envisaged by the founder. Fr. Obiora has presented himself publicly as the principal figure of control—declaring that the Diocese of Ekwulobia and Your Eminence personally endorse his leadership and that the Church now owns and directs Tansian University. These assertions are not only inaccurate but profoundly misleading, creating an atmosphere of confusion and mistrust among staff, students, benefactors, and the larger society.
In various public statements and correspondences, Fr. Obiora has described you as the “Shepherd Bishop” and “Visitor” of the University, suggesting that Tansian University is under your control. This claim, however, stands in direct contradiction to your own repeatedly expressed position that the Church is not involved in the University’s administration and has no proprietary interest in its affairs.
This deliberate misrepresentation of your position and that of the Diocese constitutes an act of moral and spiritual deceit—mendacium contra caritatem et veritatem—a falsehood against both charity and truth. It has sown discord within the institution, eroding public confidence and distorting the truth of the University’s ownership and mission.
Even more troubling are the reports that Fr. Obiora has consistently obstructed the executors of Msgr. Akam’s Last Will. This act of defiance, if left unchecked, amounts to a direct assault on the founder’s legacy and violates the basic tenet of justice—fiat justitia ruat caelum—let justice be done though the heavens fall. The executors of the Will, appointed to safeguard the founder’s vision, must be allowed to perform their duties regarding governance and stewardship of the University without interference or intimidation.
Your Eminence, it is widely known that Msgr. Akam held you in the highest regard. In the difficult years when your episcopal appointment was challenged, he stood firmly by you—supporting you spiritually, morally, and materially. That bond of mutual respect between two priests of extraordinary faith is a matter of public record. Many therefore believe that if Msgr. Akam were alive today, he would look to you as the guardian of his dream. By extension, those of us who witnessed his labour and sacrifice now appeal to you to rise once more to defend that vision from the forces that seek to distort it.
Beyond questions of moral authority, the governance and financial conditions of Tansian University are of concern. Reports indicate that Fr. Obiora has assumed unilateral control of the University’s finances—dispensing funds, awarding contracts, and making executive decisions. He is said to have appropriated for himself multiple titles, from being the Pro-Chancellor, to now being the Chancellor, and the Chairman of Board of Trustees, despite the absence of any legal or canonical mandate to do so. This concentration of power in one individual runs contrary to every principle of university governance, violates the founder’s statutes, and exposes the institution to grave financial and reputational risks.
Compounding these challenges are continuing legal disputes between the University and Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka of Ranent Industries Ltd., concerning the land and facilities used during the University’s early years. Despite favourable rulings in Chief Ezeonwuka’s favour from both the High Court and the Court of Appeal, Fr. Obiora has persistently contested these decisions, initiating further litigation that drains the University’s already fragile finances. In 2023, the Oba take-off campus was reportedly sealed by court order for failure to comply with debt obligations arising from a High Court judgments. This development not only disrupts academic activities but also brings humiliation upon an institution that was meant to project the dignity of Catholic education.
The cumulative effect of these actions has been the progressive collapse of internal trust, the demoralisation of staff, and a decline in student enrolment. The University’s reputation has suffered, and public confidence in its future is waning. In an era when Catholic education should be a model of moral clarity and administrative transparency, the present situation at Tansian University stands as a painful contradiction.
Your Eminence, the time has come for your voice to be heard clearly and unequivocally. Silence in this matter may be construed as acquiescence, while your decisive statement will dispel falsehood, restore moral order, and reaffirm the Church’s commitment to truth and justice. You occupy a singular position of moral and pastoral authority—one that commands the respect of clergy, laity, and the wider society. It is in that capacity that we implore you to intervene firmly, guided by prudence and justice, to halt the ongoing deterioration of this great institution.
In taking up this task, it will be indispensable to involve those who played foundational roles in the establishment of the University. Dr Peter Ejikeme, the last surviving member of the Missionary Servants of the Church, must be accorded his rightful role as custodian of the founder’s ecclesial vision. Likewise, Chief Sam Obaji, Dr Andy Uba, Sir Vincent Ofolobe, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, and Dr Eloka Menakaya—all of whom contributed substantially in the formative years—should be invited into a consultative process aimed at restoring both administrative order and public confidence. Their collective wisdom, experience, and moral standing will be invaluable in charting a credible path forward.
Furthermore, it would be prudent to constitute an independent committee, comprised of trusted clergy, legal experts, and representatives of the founding stakeholders, to review all administrative and financial decisions made since the passing of Msgr. Akam. Such a review should include a forensic audit of the University’s accounts, a verification of its current registration documents, and an examination of the alleged restructuring that appears to have diverted control from the original proprietors. Only through transparency can legitimacy be restored.
It is equally important to engage the National Universities Commission (NUC) to ensure that Tansian University remains in compliance with academic and governance standards. The NUC’s involvement will not only lend regulatory legitimacy but will also protect the students and staff from the consequences of potential de-accreditation or institutional collapse.
At this critical juncture, your leadership carries profound significance. The faithful within and beyond the Diocese of Ekwulobia, as well as the wider academic community, look to you as a man of integrity, humility, and steadfast commitment to the Gospel truth. Your clear public pronouncement on the status of the University and your direction toward the restoration of legitimate governance will calm anxieties, correct misconceptions, and reaffirm the Church’s position as a moral compass in a time of confusion.
Memoria justi cum laudibus—the memory of the just is blessed—and so should it be with Msgr. John Bosco Akam.
The enduring legacy of Msgr. John Bosco Akam must not be allowed to vanish under the weight of ambition, manipulation, or neglect. His life’s work was not merely the construction of physical buildings or the acquisition of academic licences; it was the embodiment of a moral mission—to show that education, when rooted in faith and conscience, can transform society. To defend that mission is to defend the integrity of the Church’s witness in Nigeria.
Your Eminence, history will judge this moment. The faithful, the students, and generations yet unborn will remember whether the Church stood firm in protecting a legacy built on sacrifice and sanctity, or whether silence permitted its disintegration. I have every confidence that your discernment and pastoral courage will rise to the occasion, restoring light where confusion has taken hold and justice where manipulation has prevailed.
May the Holy Spirit guide you with wisdom, prudence, and fortitude as you consider this appeal. May you act not only as a bishop of the Church but as a guardian of conscience, ensuring that truth and righteousness prevail over intrigue and disorder. And may the soul of Msgr. John Bosco Akam, the visionary founder of Tansian University, rejoice to see his dream preserved through your intervention and the concerted efforts of all men and women of goodwill.
With profound respect and prayerful devotion,
Dr. Chidipeters Okorie
Former Public Relations Officer (PRO), Tansian University
and Personal Assistant (Special Duties) to Very Rev. Msgr. Prof. John Bosco Akam, Founder/Chancellor/Chairman of BoT, Tansian University, Umunya – Anambra State.
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