Osita Chidoka, Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership and former Minister of Aviation, has proposed the creation of a ₦100 billion endowment fund to elevate Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) to a leading position among Africa’s universities.
Speaking as the keynote guest lecturer at the Third Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Lecture, Chidoka emphasized that COOU should not only honour its namesake but also reflect his legacy of excellence and innovation. “Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University should not just bear the name of a great leader but embody his legacy by becoming a centre of excellence and innovation,” Chidoka said. “This endowment will guarantee the university’s capacity to foster groundbreaking research, provide scholarships, and sustain world-class infrastructure independent of fluctuating budgets.”
Chidoka urged stakeholders to position COOU as a hub for addressing critical regional and national challenges, including erosion, insecurity, and sustainable development. He drew inspiration from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), attributing their global acclaim to rigorous merit-based processes that have propelled graduates to lead companies like Microsoft, Alphabet, Adobe, and IBM.
“The IITs are globally renowned for their meritocratic selection processes that cultivate world-class engineers and innovators. Nigeria must embrace this model to nurture talent, drive development, and secure a prosperous future,” he stated.
Chidoka lamented the lack of resources, global partnerships, and strategic vision in Nigeria’s higher education sector, contrasting it with institutions like the IITs. “Although we have numerous universities and an abundance of bright, motivated students, our institutions lack the resources, global partnerships, and strategic focus to become feeder grounds for global companies or prestigious institutions, limiting the broader impact of education on societal transformation,” he added.
Using the life of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu as a metaphor, Chidoka argued that education should inspire purpose and responsibility. “Education is not a ticket to comfort but a foundation for courage and purpose,” he said. “It must instil values, civic responsibility, and the drive to address societal challenges.”
In her welcome address, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kate Omenugha, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to its “Three Vs” agenda: Values, Viability, and Visibility. This framework, she said, remains central to COOU’s vision under her administration.
The lecture drew prominent figures, including Anambra State Deputy Governor Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, representing the Governor; former Minister Labaran Maku as the special guest of honour; and Prof. Greg Nwakoby, former Vice-Chancellor of COOU, who chaired the occasion.
Chidoka’s call to action challenges COOU and its stakeholders to aim higher, positioning the university as a beacon of transformative education and innovation in Africa.
