Professor Christopher Ogbogbo has officially assumed office as the substantive vice-chancellor of Admiralty University of Nigeria (ADUN), Ibuzor, Delta State.
The immediate past national president of the Historical Society of Nigeria announced his assumption of duty in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
“Yesterday morning, I resumed duty as the Vice Chancellor of Admiralty University of Nigeria in Delta State. I thank God for His grace, family, and friends who stood by me,” he wrote.
Ogbogbo’s appointment was announced on February 28 in a statement signed by the university’s registrar and secretary to the council Commodore Isaac Mankilik (rtd), following an extraordinary meeting of the university’s governing council.
According to the statement, Ogbogbo emerged as the preferred candidate after a rigorous selection process, receiving nine out of 15 votes from council members. He was chosen from a shortlist of three highly qualified candidates.
The statement highlighted Ogbogbo’s impressive academic and professional credentials. A distinguished professor of history, Ogbogbo holds degrees in history and law from the University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University, respectively. He is also a fellow of several esteemed organizations and has over 36 years of experience in teaching, research, and academic leadership.
His appointment was, however, challenged by the former chairman of the university’s governing council, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba (rtd). Ezeoba queried the selection process and later resigned from his position as council chairman.
The Federal Ministry of Education, which earlier named deputy vice chancellor (management services) of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Professor Lucian Obinna Chukwu as substantive vice-chancellor of Admiralty University, made a u-turn in a statement signed by its director of press and public relations Folasade Boriowo on March 5.
The ministry affirmed that Ogbogbo’s appointment aligned with merit and transparency.
“Contrary to recent misleading reports, the Ministry later discovered as a fact that due process was meticulously followed in the selection process culminating in the appointment of Professor Christopher B.N. Ogbogbo as the substantive Vice-Chancellor,” parts of the statement read.
