DELSU VC Makes Compassionate Appeal As 40 Legal Scholars Review His Tenure In 661-Paged Exposé

The Vice-Chancellor of Delta State University, Abraka, Prof. Andy Egwunyenga, has called on institutions of learning in Nigeria to promote national development through training their students to become champions of justice, inclusiveness and accountability.

The Vice-Chancellor made this call in Oleh Campus on Monday while responding to the public presentation of the book “Justice is for All: Legal Essays in Honour of Professor Andy Ogochukwu Egwunyenga”.

Egwunyenga pointed out that peace and prosperity are accelerated in the society when leaders carry everyone along on the basis of justice and accountability.

He, therefore, advocated that universities and other institutions of learning should establish a culture of justice, inclusiveness and accountability to groom future leaders to stand against injustice, segregation and irresponsibility in the interest of all.

However, the Vice-Chancellor cautioned that being a champion of justice does not require arrogance as one can pursue justice and remain humble and polite.

He thanked the forty authors who contributed scholarly articles to the book, the organisers of the public presentation and all guests for honouring him.

He noted that his achievements in office as Vice-Chancellor, which were being celebrated by the book in his honour, are products of the collective efforts of the Governing Council, principal officers, staff and students of the university as well as his family and thanked them all for their support.

While declaring the ceremony opened, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of the university, Gen. Alexander Ogomudia (Rtd), thanked the organisers of the event for recognising and celebrating good service as a way to encourage other public officers to pursue justice in the discharge of their duties.

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The Pro-Chancellor pointed out that Egwunyenga’s tenure as Vice-Chancellor paid commendable attention to the welfare of staff and students of the university and demonstrated impressive management of human and material resources worthy of emulation.

In a welcome address, the Chief Host of the public presentation and Provost of the university’s Oleh Campus, Prof. Elo Ibagere, explained that the book was in recognition of his leadership style as Chief Executive of the university premised on the principles of non-discriminatory justice and inclusiveness, which has significantly enhanced the welfare of staff and students, developed infrastructure and improved teaching and research in the university, especially in Oleh Campus.

He thanked Egwunyenga for approving the conversion of ad-hoc workers in the Oleh Campus and the university in general to tenured staff, describing it as a gesture that has impacted positively on the families of the affected workers.

In her address, the Host and Dean of the Faculty of Law of the university, Prof. Beauty Alloh, said the book was written to document the legacies of Egwunyenga from legal perspectives.

Alloh, who served as the book Editor, pointed out that the Faculty of Law was convinced that the Vice-Chancellor dispensed justice properly throughout his tenure because there was no trace of bias or prejudice in his actions and decisions.

The book reviewer, Prof. Festus Emiri (SAN), informed the gathering that the book contained six hundred and sixty-one pages, divided into twenty-seven chapters and authored by forty legal scholars.

He observed that the book shows evidence that all hope is not lost for the unbiased dispensation of justice in Nigeria by documenting the efforts of Egwunyenga to pursue justice in all facets of his administration as Vice-Chancellor of DELSU from 2019 to 2024.

Emiri pointed out significant highlights in the book to include Egwunyenga’s leadership style shaped by the culture of diversity, inclusiveness, accountability, camaraderie and unionism, especially in the right of workers to go on strike.

The Special Guest of Honour and Senator Representing Delta South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Sen. Joel-Onowakpor Thomas, said he was happy to identify with Egwunyenga because of his personal conviction that he has done well as Vice-Chancellor of DELSU.

The federal law maker pointed out that the only way to guarantee peace and prosperity in the world is to pursue justice, inclusiveness and accountability for which Egwunyenga was being celebrated, urging all leaders to emulate the academic czar.

The highpoint of the event was the public presenting of the book by the duo of the Chief Presenter and Iyesere of Oyede Kingdom, High Chief Enahoro Eta, who was represented by the former Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, and the Presenter and Rector of Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, Prof. Emmanuel Ufuophu-Biri.