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A couple of weeks ago, I had cause to ruminate over the life and times of my late uncle, Professor George Obiozor, through an article entitled: “TRUMP: IF AMBASSADOR GEORGE OBIOZOR WERE STILL ALIVE”. As the title suggests, I was moved to do the write-up in the wake of the diplomatic uneasiness between our dear country, Nigeria, and the United States of America, following the recertification of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” by the Donald Trump administration; and the latter’s threat to invade our country to tackle terrorists and insurgents. As expected, several well-meaning Nigerians came up with the argument that what Nigeria needs now are deft diplomatic moves and naturally, Professor George Obiozor, easily one of the most experienced diplomats Nigeria has ever produced, came to mind. After the article, I came across several comments in the social media reaffirming the fact that the late Professor Obiozor would have been quite handy in engaging the US government concerning the matter under discuss.

Today, however, is his death anniversary and even though the matter for which Nigerians recently talked and wrote about him is still lingering, Professor Obiozor is missed in more ways than one. Professor George Achulike Obiozor towered in academics, public service and diplomacy but his last duty post was as the president-general of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, the apex socio-cultural organization of the Igbo nation. In other words, Professor Obiozor had, after several years of serving Nigeria and indeed the international community quite meritoriously, returned home to serve his own people, the Igbo. Even though he was more or less persuaded into accepting to serve in that office, Professor Obiozor put in the same verve, diligence and enthusiasm with what he carried out his national and international assignments earlier. He did not see serving his own kinsmen less challenging than in capacities that made him a recurring decimal in every administration since the Second Republic, whether military or civilian.

As a matter of fact, there was no THINK TANK in the country Professor Obiozor was not part of. He was not a politician but he was a master strategist and was consulted by even the most astute politicians. Of course, his definition of politics as a concentric circle of conspiracies wherein the last set of conspirators would always emerges victorious remains a classical reference in almost every political discussion in Nigeria.  Still, the period he served his people as president-general of Ohaneze Ndigbo could be said to be one of the most tasking in his career. Although his ascendance into that office marked a water shed in the existence of the body, it was at a most difficult time in the relationship between the Igbo and their fellow compatriot across the country. He took up the job of leading the Igbo at the height of the separatist mantra of some younger elements in Igbo land. And even though the movement was initially non-violent, criminally-minded elements soon infiltrated the struggle and began to unleash mayhem on the people.

Thus, throughout his tenure as president-general of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Professor Obiozor was caught in between assuring a skeptical Nigerian nation that his people are committed to the unity of Nigeria on one hand, and convincing the agitators that Ndigbo are better off in a larger, united and peaceful Nigeria on the other. For a fellow who had been taken into confidence by the highest echelon of the national political establishment, nothing could be more worrisome than being perceived as condoning tendencies that challenged the unity of the country. But contrary to insinuations in some quarters that he would play the ethnic irredentist, he took the new assignment from a robust patriotic ambience.

Because he believed that injustice was at the root of the separatist agitations that were, in any case, not limited to his people, that apparent dilemma was for him easy to handle. He once told a panel of journalists who thought they could blackmail him on the issue of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) thus: “the IPOB boys are our children and we cannot deny then” but he quickly cautioned that his kinsmen in Igboland must try and “listen to good counsel from their leaders”.

Further prodded by one of the panelists whether the Ohaneze which he was leading believes in Biafra, he said “There is Biafra in anyone looking for justice”, adding that “so long as injustice is meted to people in any part of the country, sentiments like Biafra are bound to arise irrespective of tribe, religion or geography”. For the one and half years he served as Ohaneze president-general, Professor Obiozor kept saying, “Igbo are not at war with Nigeria”.

Apart from the challenge posed by the separatist movement and the consequential mounting of suspicion of his Igbo kinsmen by other sections of the country, it was during the same period that agitations for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction got to a crescendo. Professor Obiozor, both as an individual and as leader of the Igbo nation, threw his weight behind it. He once said, “finally, it is our turn. It is right, reasonable and timely. Igbo president is our agenda”. Unfortunately, death came a few months before the 2023 presidential election but even though the outcome was not as he would have wished, Nigerians missed his own perspective on how the entire thing ended up.

Of course, that was not the first time he was playing a leading role in the pursuit of the interest of his people. Professor Obiozor played a key role in facilitating the return of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu to Nigeria in the Second Republic. He acted as a mediator between Ojukwu and the Nigerian government then headed by President Shehu Shagari, shuttling between Lagos and the then Ivory Coast, now Cote d’ Ivoire. In that assignment, he worked closely with some of Igboland’s finest intellectuals like the late Chuba Okadigbo, who was a Special Adviser to President Shagari, Nnia Nwodo, who was a minister in that republic and ABC Nwosu.

My last article on Professor Obiozor referenced earlier and in which I sought to explore what would have been his position on President Trump’s current posturing on Nigeria, was published a few days just before the sentencing of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment by a federal high court. Now that we are marking his death anniversary amid a heated debate over that judgment, a good question would be, what would have been Professor Obiozor’s position on the matter. But the answer is not difficult to fathom. Professor Obiozor would have aligned with several other well-meaning Nigerian to tell his Igbo kinsmen to remain calm as a “political solution” is in the offing.

Professor Obiozor was a statesman, a renowned academic, public servant and diplomat, but he was first and foremost a community leader and successful family man. He was born and raised in Awo-Ommama, an ancient community in the Oru-East local government area of Imo state. Even though he rose to the apogee of his academic and public service career, he was very much in touch with his roots. He served his immediate community meritoriously and was honoured with a chieftaincy title of Ugwumba I of Orlu in 1991. Professor George Obiozor was blessed with a beautiful family.   

On March 21, 2023, Prof’s country home in Awo-Ommama was razed down by unknown hoodlums using Improvised Explosive Devices (IED). Naturally, the incident was greeted with outrage but till date, the mystery over it is yet to be unraveled. Even though he knew that there was bound to be a price to be paid for providing leadership at such a precarious period, that was clearly a heartless show of ingratitude to an 80-year old man who had used his active days in service of both the entire Nigerian nation and his kinsmen in Igboland. Prof. was to latter confide in some of his close associates that what pained him most in that incident was the loss of a manuscript of a book he had hoped would be his last, along with his world-class library that took him several years to build.

Following the formal announcement of his death by Governor Hope Uzodimma, on December 26, 2022, a deluge of tributes flooded the media from across the world. This was how Governor Uzodimma, himself a longtime ally and kinsman of Professor Obiozor, described him: “A renowned academic, an exceptional diplomat, a statesman, and a tenacious patriot”. Former Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Major General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), whom Professor Obiozor served as Special Adviser, had this to say: “I can attest to the fact that Georgy was made of impeccable qualities. He was a scholar, an exquite diplomat and a man of vast public knowledge. Notwithstanding his depth of knowledge and interest in writing, he remained an unassuming intellectual who was beholding to a life of pleasant expositories laced with humour”. Professor Chido Nwangwu, a US-based academic wrote of him thus: “Only as few scholars had the skills of interpreting and speaking rather clearly on a multitude of global issues and situating the most practical implications and connections”.

A former governor of Imo state, Ikedi Ohakim, wrote of him thus: “Professor Obiozor was not just a brilliant academic, he was a philosopher, a great thinker, a trait he embellished with a down-to-earth and unassuming mein that set him aside from most of his colleagues”. Former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, says of him: “He was deep, humorous and Intellectually rigorous”.

In a tribute on behalf of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), which Professor Obiozor once headed as Director-General, Professor Eghosa E. Osaghae, the head of the institute at the time of Prof’s passing wrote, among other things: “Professor Obiozr demonstrated unalloyed zest for strengthening our capacity to actualize Nigeria’s manifest destiny as African and global leader”.

President Muhammadu Buhari in his own tribute wrote that Professor Obiozor’s “contributions to a peaceful and stable polity … will never be forgotten”. President Olusegun Obasanjo, in whose administration he served as Ambassador to Israel and the United States, noted that Professor Obiozor’s tenure was “a fitting complement to my administration’s efforts to re-make the international profile of Nigeria”. Similarly, President Gooluck Jonathan in a tribute asserted that “Professor Obiozor was a great patriot whose love for the nation and his people knew no bounds in his selfless service towards the unity and development of our country”. We can go on and on but space constraint would not permit going beyond a few of the many acknowledgements by eminent personalities of his contributions not only to the building of the Nigerian nation but also to international scholarship and diplomacy.

Professor Obiozor had his early education at Awo-Omamma Comprehensive Secondary School from 1959 to 1963. For his higher education, he attended the Institute of African studies, Geneva, Switzerland in 1967 for a Diploma programme. He later proceeded to the University of South Tacoma, Washington, USA where he obtained a B.A (Hons) in Political Science in 1968.

He obtained a Master’s degree from Columbia University, New York, in International Law and Organization, M. Phil in International Affairs in 1974 and finally a doctorate in International Affairs in 1976. Professor Obiozor was a lecturer at the Pratt Institute, New York, from 1971 to 1975. He went on to become an assistant Professor of Political Science in City University of New York, Medgar Evers College between 1975 and 1979 and Rlaph Bunche Fellow at the City University of New York Graduate Center, from 1977 to 1978.

He was the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the state of Israel and High Commissioner to the Republic of Cyprus between 1999 and 2003 and later Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States from 2004 to 2008. Before his engagements with foreign missions, he had been Special Adviser to the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Assistant to the President on International Affair in 1990. He also served as Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Africa’s foremost foreign policy think tank. Professor Obiozor authored several books and other seminal works including highly regarded journal articles. Sleep on Ugwumba          

Hon. Uche Obiozor writes from UbaChima, Awo-Ommama Imo State

The long-awaited election of two Congregation Representatives to the Governing Council of Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri; one Academic Staff and one Non-Teaching Staff representative, as established by the Imo State University law, successfully took place on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at the University Auditorium.

The election, which all participants described as the most credible, free, fair, and peaceful, had five contestants from the Academic Staff (four males and one female): Prof. Gloria Ernest-Samuel (female), Prof. A. O. Ejiogu (male), Prof. Okechi Dominic Azuwike (male), Associate Prof. Vitalis C. Nwulu (male), and Associate Prof. Barr. P. K. N. Enesha (male). On the Non-Teaching Staff side, only one candidate, Comrade John-Anoruo Eugenia C. (female), contested.

At the end of the closely contested election, Prof. Gloria Ernest-Samuel defeated her four male opponents to emerge as the winner among the Academic Staff with 199 (one hundred and ninety-nine) votes. The other Academic Staff candidates received the following votes: Prof. Okechi Dominic Azuwike, 143; Associate Prof. Barr. P. K. N. Enesha, 68; Associate Prof. Vitalis C. Nwulu, 36; and Prof. A. O. Ejiogu, 22. Meanwhile, Comrade John-Anoruo Eugenia emerged winner unopposed from the Non-Teaching Staff side with a total of 446 (four hundred and forty-six) yes votes.

Prior to the election, interested candidates were asked to pick up forms from the Registrar and return them on or before November 25, 2025. On election day, the list of eligible voters was compiled faculty by faculty, including directorates and units, to facilitate accreditation. Two ballot papers, corresponding to the Academic and Non-Teaching categories, were given to voters. Voting was conducted simultaneously with voter accreditation, allowing accredited voters to cast their ballots immediately.

Before voting commenced, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. U. U. Chukwumaeze, SAN, FCArb, addressed the congregation and read relevant sections of the Imo State University law. Staff members who are not part of the congregation, nominated by the Registrar, served as Presiding Officers under the supervision of the electoral committee chairman, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Onuh Martin Onuh.

Prior to accreditation and voting, each aspirant was given two minutes to address the congregation. Voting was by secret ballot, and vote counting began immediately after voting ended. The electoral chairman then announced the results and declared the winners.

Members of the Electoral Committee included: Prof. Onuh Martin Onuh (Chairman), Mr. Cajethan N. Curtis Azubuogu (Member), Mr. Fidelis Njoku (Member), Prof. Blessing Solomon-Uwakwe (Member), Engr. Dr. V. C. Igiri (Member), and Dr. Richard Uzoh (Secretary).

Dr. Onyekachi Augustus Nwaozor, is

The Ag. Public Relations Officer,

Imo State University, Owerri.

Imo State University (IMSU) has clinched the prestigious overall first position at the 2025 Coderina University Challenge, held on November 20th at the National Universities Commission (NUC) Auditorium, Abuja. 

The competition, themed "Circular Economy through Technology: Showcasing Technology and Innovation for Impact and Sustainability," was hosted by Coderina University in collaboration with the NUC.

Out of 66 Nigerian universities that applied, only 10 advanced to the final stage of this highly competitive event. IMSU proudly secured its place among the top contenders, presenting a pioneering Biomass Digester prototype developed through design, construction, and rigorous testing. 

This innovative project demonstrated the university’s commitment to sustainable solutions and impactful technology.The challenge aimed to transform academic research from theory to commercialization by harnessing student creativity and innovation to solve real-world problems. 

IMSU’s entry, backed by the Faculty of Engineering and the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, exemplified this mission. At the awards ceremony, IMSU received a grand prize of 5 million naira. 

The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, who attended the event, pledged full support to elevate the visibility and impact of IMSU’s creative achievements, further encouraging technological advancement among Nigerian youths.

The winning team from IMSU featured talented students like: Muoleeh Samuel Uzodinma, James Emmanuel Ikenna, Offiong Wisdom Joseph, and Opara Mmesoma Precious. They were expertly guided by Professor Ferdinand Nkem Mbagwu, Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at IMSU.

The Winning Team acknowledges with gratitude, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. U.U. Chukwumaeze, SAN, FCArb, and the entire University Management for their financial support, impactful leadership and encouragement, which were vital in enabling IMSU’s participation and ultimate success at this national event. 

This victory has not only enhanced IMSU’s creative profile but also positioned the university as a leading center for innovation and sustainable technology in Nigeria.

Dr. Onyekachi Augustus Nwaozor, is

The Ag. Public Relations Officer,

Imo State University, Owerri.

Law students from Imo State University (IMSU), Mr. Linus-Eleazu Eunan (500 level) and Miss Onuoha Prevailer Onyinyechi (400 level), have emerged third nationally, winning a cash prize of one million naira (₦1,000,000) and medals at the recently concluded International Cape Town Convention Moot Court Competition, organized under the auspices of the Cape Town Convention Academic Project.

The competition took place in Abuja, with the award presentation ceremony held at the Federal High Court premises in Central Area, Abuja, on November 12, 2025. It was organized by the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development in collaboration with the Aviation Working Group (AWG) and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.

During the presentation of the students and their awards to the Vice-Chancellor of IMSU, Professor U. U. Chukwumaeze, SAN, FCArb, at his office in Owerri, Dr. Ngozi Chuma Umeh, one of the lecturers who coordinated the students, explained that only 18 universities across Nigeria qualified for the competition, with IMSU being among them.

She further stated, “Out of the 18 universities that qualified, only 8 advanced to the semifinals, and IMSU was one of these. The final 8 were invited to Abuja for the semifinal and final stages. Ultimately, Imo State University emerged third nationally, and the organizers awarded the students one million naira (₦1,000,000) in recognition of their achievement.”

Expressing his joy, the Vice-Chancellor thanked the students for making the university proud. He also commended His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma, (ONWA), the Executive Governor of Imo State, for providing the enabling environment and for all his support to the Management and staff of Imo State University, without which, all these feat wouldn't have been achieved, as well as the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor C. K. Okorie, SAN, FCArb, for his dedication both official and unofficial in advancing the faculty’s status. The Vice-Chancellor recalled that the Dean recently contacted a law lecturer who traveled for a one-year program in Canada to support the faculty. Shortly afterward, the lecturer generously donated seats valued at over one million naira for the Faculty of Law auditorium.

He also thanked Dr. Ngozi Chuma Umeh for accompanying the students to Abuja for the competition, alongside all the Heads of Departments and lecturers within the Faculty of Law for their commitment to providing quality education.

Sharing their experiences, Mr. Linus-Eleazu described the competition as an exciting journey that began when the Ministry of Aviation approached the IMSU Faculty of Law. He explained that the initial stage involved drafting legal processes. With guidance from law lecturers and through their own research, they prepared their submissions, filed them, and qualified for the final eight to compete in Abuja.

Miss Onuoha Prevailer remarked that she found it fascinating to engage with International Law within the context of aviation. She expressed happiness in representing IMSU at such a prestigious level of competition.

The Cape Town Convention International Moot Court program (CTC Moot Court) was established under the Cape Town Convention Academic Project (CTCAP), led by UNIDROIT and the University of Cambridge, with the Aviation Working Group as founding sponsors. 

The program aims to familiarize students, academics, and judges with the Cape Town Convention and the Aircraft Protocol through complex hypothetical scenarios, providing educational exercises in a simulated judicial environment.

Present at the award presentation in the Vice-Chancellor’s office were: Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Agnes Osita-Njoku; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Onuh Martin Onuh; Acting Registrar, Mr. C. N. C. Azubuogu; Bursar, Mr. Fidelis Njoku; Acting Librarian, Professor Blessing Solomon-Uwakwe; Director of Works, Engr. Dr. V. C. Igiri; Director of Physical Planning, Dr. Ken Orguh; Dean, Faculty of Law, Professor Aloy Ojilere, Personal Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. C. J. Amaechi; and the University Public Relations Officer, Dr. Onyekachi A. Nwaozor.

 ‎ 

By Augustus Onyekachi Nwaozor 

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), through its Joint Campus Council (JCC), Imo State Chapter, has commended the Imo State University (IMSU) Management for ensuring that the just concluded IMSU SUG Election was free, fair, credible, and peaceful.

In a letter dated July 31, 2025, Jointly signed by NANS JCC Chairman, Imo State Chapter, Comrade Nwosu Stanley O. and the Secretary Comrade Enyeribe Evans Izukamma, addressed to the Dean of Student Affairs, IMSU, copied to the Vice-Chancellor, Commissioner of Police, Director State Security Service, Commissioner of Education, Commissioner of Youths, SA to Governor on Youths, SSA Students, Imo State Government, NANS National President, Stakeholders Chairman South East, Stakeholders Chairman Imo State, with the caption "RE: NANS COMMENDATION FOR A CREDIBLE SUG ELECTION IN IMSU", reads in part, "we would like to extend our warmest congratulations to you and the entire electoral committee for conducting a transparent and credible election of Imo State University's SUG, which took place on 30th July, 2025. Your leadership and commitment to upholding democratic principles are truly commendable. Thank you for fostering an environment of trust and fairness".

In her speech, the Dean of Student Affairs, Professor N. M. Oly-Alawuba, shared some insights about the election process. She explained that the election was initially scheduled for last year, 2024, but faced challenges from a group claiming to be “Stakeholders.” Interestingly, these individuals weren’t students of IMSU, yet they tried to interfere by opposing the introduction of electronic voting, insisting on traditional physical voting instead.

“When they raised concerns last year, I made it clear that it was either electronic voting or no election at all,” she explained. Unfortunately, this led to some tensions, including an attack on her then-deputy and even damage to their office. But this year, the Management was determined to move forward and set a goal to hold the SUG Election by the end of July 2025.

She stated that, despite the challenges and resistance from those “stakeholders,” the University remained committed to implementing e-voting to ensure a smooth and peaceful election process. The Dean highlighted that past SUG elections using physical voting often resulted in chaos, leading to a general apprehension about the elections. This time, however, the University was resolute in conducting the election electronically to avoid any issues.

On election day, July 30, 2025, only accredited observers, including NANS representatives and security agents, were allowed on campus for monitoring. Students were encouraged to vote electronically from the comfort of their homes or wherever they were, using their ID cards, which ensured that each student could only vote once eliminating the risk of double voting.

The Dean proudly stated, “The University Management emphasized that there would be no room for any illegality, and I’m thrilled that everyone followed the rules and regulations guiding the election. As a result, the election turned out to be free, fair, credible, and peaceful, and we give God the glory!”

"We celebrate this achievement together and look forward to even more positive developments in our university community."

At the end of the exercise, the following were in the following positions: 

1. SUG President - Ijezie Brendan Daberechukwu (Ikenga)

2. Vice President - Udensi Chinasa L

3. Vice President (External) - Iwuchukwu Henry C.

4. Secretary General - Mmegwa Victor 

5. Assistant Secretary General - Iloh Favour Chiamaka

6. Treasurer - Orji Justice 

7. Director of Finance - Raphael Rachel C.

8. Director of Welfare - Uzowuru Paschal C.

9. Director of Information - Egema Sunshine C.

10. Director of Health - Ifediorah Stanley Ifeanyi.

11) Director of Environment - Echemazu Favour C.

12. Director of Transport - Balogun Victor A.

13. Director of Social - Aloy Arinze Collins 

14. Director of Sports - Ebosie Anthony Kyrian (Olek).

Over one hundred and twenty (120) Universities in Nigeria presented their Law graduates to the Nigerian Law School. Three (3) Law graduates of Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, namely: Orji Vivienne Chinyere, Ekwueme Uzondu, and Akuchie Anita Ugochinyere, made First Class out of the seventy-two (72) First Class graduates of the November 2024 Bar II stream 2 of the Nigerian Law School, according to the recently released Law School result. 

Even if it is decided that the one hundred and twenty (120) universities get one First Class graduate each, the seventy-two First Class graduates still won't go round. Still, Imo State University alone produced three (3) out of those seventy-two. It would be recalled that in the previous result released by the Nigerian Law School (stream one), six (6) law graduates of Imo State University broke records with First Class. 

As part of Governor Uzodimma's resolve to develop the education sector in Imo State and to encourage scholarship, his Shared Prosperity government paid the Law School Fees of all eligible Imo State University Law graduates, for the November 2024 Bar II. The Imo State Government, under the leadership of Senator Hope Uzodimma, considers education a fundamental investment in the state's development.

The repeated record-breaking successes by graduates and undergraduate students of the Faculty of Law, Imo State University, underscore the unrelenting efforts of the Dean, Heads of Department, and the entire staff of Faculty of Law, in ensuring quality teaching and a conducive academic environment for the students to thrive..

Irrespective of repeated attacks by disgruntled elements and faceless individuals, the indefatigable Vice Chancellor of Imo State University, Professor Uchefula U. Chukwumaeze, SAN, FCArb's policies have continued to yield positive results and excellence. By providing corruption-free and quality leadership, as well as a conducive academic environment for the generation and fertilization of creative ideas and knowledge, Professor Chukwumaeze and his Management Team dutifully keyed into the Shared Prosperity philosophy of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma's government..

The Vice-Chancellor, therefore, stated that it is a thing of great delight for the Imo State University community that her students have continued to blaze the trail as shown in the latest three First Class from one institution, at the Nigerian Law School.

He, however, congratulated the students for making Imo State, Imo State Government, Imo State University, and their families proud, and urged them to continue to be the shining Stars of their generation, adding that as the ambassadors of Imo State University, they have to keep the light that has been enkindled in them, ever burning. He also congratulated the Dean, Professor C. K. Okorie, SAN, FCArb, the Professors and Lecturers of the Faculty of Law, Imo State University, for pouring out their knowledge on the students who have now made the University proud.

Onyekachi Augustus Nwaozor is

The Ag. Public Relations Officer of

Imo State University, Owerri.