Prof. Madu Iwe on Monday assumed office as the sixth Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) in Abia.
Iwe, who was the immediate past Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), succeeded Prof. Francis Otunta.
In an inuagural speech, Iwe promised to take measures to reposition the 29-year-old university to attain greater heights.
He said that his administration would remain loyal and do everything germane to promote the agricultural and educational policies of the Federal Government.
He said that his vision and vista of the the institution “will embrace that of a knowledge-giving, society-conscious-and-satisfying world-class university”.
Iwe also promised to consolidate on the significant gains of the past administrations, which would propel strategic advancement of the university to the next level.
He said that his administration would engage in mixed farming on several hectares of the university land and progressively enhance the efficiency of land utilisation.
According to him, both students and members of staff shall be motivated to participate in the farming and agriculture for maximum utilisation and expansion of the university space.
He said that vigorous efforts would be made to complete all on-going projects in the university.
Iwe, a Professor of Food Science and Technology, said that a re-invigorated maintenance and house-keeping culture would be put in place.
“As a practically-oriented and specialist agricultural university, we shall pay special attention to Research and Development.
“This is because contemporary higher education objectives are achieved through the process of generating and transmitting new knowledge by performing research,” he said.
He called on the South-East and South-South people and politicians to see the university as their own and contribute to its growth through donations, endowment and others.
The new VC extended a hand of friendship to his other 49 co-contestants for the top job and urged them to support the efforts to lift the university “to greater and enviable heights in the coming five years”.
In a remark, Mr Lawal Zayyana, the University’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, who was represented by Prof. Kaka Bukar, described Iwe as a rare gem.
He urged the university community to give him the necessary support to enable him to succeed in his new assignment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the investiture of the new VC was attended by by dignitaries from the academia, government and religious circles.
