By Bright C. OKEREKE

In an innovatively successful style, the Vice Chancellor and the management of Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University (KOMU) Ideato, Imo State, hosted three (3) fundamental and significant university events on Wednesday April 15, 2026.

The events were, the third (3rd) Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service to mark the Vice Chancellor’s four (4) years in office, the 13th KOMU Public Lecture and the combined General Assembly for the 3rd and 4th Year Assessment of the University.

The interdenominational solemn service had priests from various denominations who offered prayers for the Vice Chancellor and his family, the University expanded management team, Staff and Students and the entire Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University community.

Addressing the congregation, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ikechukwu N. S. Dozie, thanked the mammoth crowd of worshippers for honourng the service invitation.
Reeling out the impressive results of his sterling service performance to the university within the four years of service as the Vice Chancellor of the university, he thanked God for His mercies and gracias which enabled the efforts that manifested to successful achievements.

He expressed his profound gratitude to the University Visitor, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma CON, whom God used to perfect the divine mission of his appointment as the pioneer Chief Presiding Officer of Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University (KOMU) Ideato.

Public Lecture
As lined up in the day’s programme; the 13th Public Lecture in the University Public Lecture Series took over the stage with Professor Chigozie Cyril Asiabaka, the President, Epitome Institute of Education and Innovation, Owerri and 6th Substantive Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, as the Guest Lecturer with the theme “ Threats, Tensions and the Future of Higher Education: Pathways and Coping Strategies For Nigerian Universities”.

Prof. Asiabaka, in his lecture, defined Education as the engine of personal and National development…needed to unlock the God-given critical, analytical and creative potential of every human being.

According to the renowned Professor, lifting from UNESCO (2020), “Higher education involves higher order of intellectual activities that results in the accumulation of knowledge, the power of the mind, rational thinking that questions all and directs the mind towards critical and analytical thinking. And these skills are needed for problem solving.“

On Threats and Tensions; he identified the following;- Over-centralization of University government, politicisation of Higher Institution appointments, poor funding, poor funding, brain drain, poor research and development, Mental Health Crisis among many others as critical factors.
On pathways and coping strategies for Nigerian Universities, Prof. Asiabaka identified the following:- More investment in research and development, Promoting effective leadership and governance structure, Industry collaborations, Promoting the use of Triple and Quadruple Helix Model, Promoting use of digital technologies, the use of dynamic and responsive curriculum, coping with disruptive technologies, decentralisation of University governance, alternative funding sources, entrepreneurship education among others.

The Guest Lecturer, Professor Chigozie Cyril Asiabaka, who was earlier introduced by the KOMU, Vice Chancellor, Prof. I.N.S. Dozie as one of his mentors was further described as a trusted academic and administrator while appreciating him with the ‘KOMU Scholar’ award. On behalf of Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University community; the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof Jude Ogbulie, offered the Vote of Thanks.

Combined 4th General Assembly

Recessing from the Public Lecture opened the Senate building’s door for the last event of the day; the combined 3rd and 4th General Assembly themed; “ACCELERATING OUR PROGRESS TO ACHIEVE GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS AND WORLD-CLASS STATUS: -A FOURTH YEAR ASSESSMENT” accompanied with a subtitle; “The Audacity of Change in Pursuit of Excellence”
Presenting the 3rd and 4th year combined address on the State of the University, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ikechukwu Nosike Simplicius Dozie, recognised the University Visitor, His Excellency Senator Hope Odidika Uzodimma CON, in a very special way, applauding his continued support for the institution. He also recognized the Commissioner for Tertiary and Technical Education in the State, Professor Victor Nwachukwu and the Executive Chairman of Ideato South LGA, Hon Okechukwu Okwara alias Morocco for all their support.

Acknowledging the Governor’s support further, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dozie, made a solemn declaration that read thus “As we mark our four years and eleven months in office, I wish to reassure our Visitor of our unalloyed loyalty and unflinching support to his administration, particularly in discharge of my duties as Vice Chancellor. I pledge to remain conscious of the expectations of our Visitor, that of our people- Ndi Imo and Nigerians who seek an institution that offers education training and mentorship. By the special grace of God, coupled with our determination, we shall not disappoint in achieving our collective aspiration for KOMU.”

The presentation otherwise referred to as Score Card listed the administration’s remarkable impacts in various areas that among others includes General administration and governance, Academic Development and Innovations, ICT Development, Staff Welfare, Students’ Welfare, partnership and collaborations, Infrastructural Development, Host Community Relations and Donations to the University.

Bright C. OKEREKE is the SA Media to the Vice Chancellor, KOMU