…as outgoing Vice Chancellor denies appointing Prof Antonia Essien as Acting VC
By Ime Silas
Following the expiration of the tenure of the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof Nyaudo Ndaeyo, an attempt to appoint the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Prof Anthonia Essien as Acting Vice Chancellor has met stiff resistance.
It was gathered that the outgoing Vice Chancellor had allegedly thrown up the recommendation of Prof Anthonia Essien to the University Senate during its sitting yesterday.
Responding to the issue, some senior members of the University Senate advised the outgoing Vice Chancellor against the nomination or recommendation of Prof Antonia Essien as Acting Vice Chancellor, arguing that it’s not one of the statutory duties of Senate to appoint a VC or Acting VC as it is solely the responsibility of the University Governing Council.
According to a senior Professor and member of the University Senate, who did not wish to be named in this report, ” yes, the outgoing Vice Chancellor actually brought the issue of Prof Anthonia to the Senate sitting yesterday. But, his recommendation was rejected because of many reasons. One, it’s a universal principle that no one can be a judge in his own case”.
Shedding more light, the University Don who’s a very senior member of the Senate continued “Prof Anthonia Essien is already a contender for the Vice Chancellorship position. So, she can’t be an Acting VC to oversee the process of which she is an interested party.
“In addition, Prof Anthonia is a Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics. The proper thing to do is for the outgoing Vice Chancellor to handover to the Deputy VC Admin, not even as ‘Acting’, but merely as a Place Holder” .
Meanwhile, the Governing Council of the University of Uyo is scheduled to meet next Tuesday and may appoint an Acting VC for the institution, pending the emergence of a substantive Vice Chancellor.
As at the time of this report, the process was in top gear towards selecting a new Vice Chancellor for the University as the tenure of the outgoing VC comes to an end tomorrow , Friday, 28th November, 2025.
Our sources have also confirmed that Prof Ndaeyo had told the Chairman of the University of Uyo Governing Council that he never appointed Prof Antonia Essien as the Acting Vice Chancellor.
