The leadership of the University of Nigeria Alumni Association (UNAA), under its National President, Dr. Linda Agua-Onyekwelu, has called on the management of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, to dissociate itself from a scheduled event organized by a faction of the association.
In a formal letter jointly signed by the alumni president, Mrs Agua-Onyekwelu and National Secretary, Tony Chukwu, and addressed to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Maduebibisi O. Iwe, the association’s mainstream leadership disavowed the 115th National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting/Emergency Convention, planned to take place from December 5–8, 2024, at the university’s Senator Pius Anyim Auditorium.
The letter claims that the event is being organized by a “dissident group” of UNAA, led by Lady Doris Okoroh, whose faction is allegedly in violation of a court order.
The dispute stems from a leadership crisis within the alumni association, with the matter currently before the Federal High Court in Enugu under lawsuit number FHC/EN/CS/62/2022.
The mainstream UNAA leadership asserts that the dissident group is engaging in contempt of court and exploiting unsuspecting members of the public through fraudulent fundraising.
They further accused the group of disregarding a peace mediation initiative spearheaded by the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof. Polycarp E. Chigbu.
The peace process, which involves a committee comprising four vice chancellors and other eminent scholars, had called for memoranda from both factions. While the mainstream leadership complied, the dissident group allegedly failed to participate and instead scheduled the contentious NEC meeting.
The letter urged the Vice Chancellor and the university community to avoid hosting the event, emphasizing that such an action would undermine the authority of the University of Nigeria’s acting leadership and disrupt efforts to unify the association.
The crisis, which began during the tenure of former Vice Chancellor Prof. Charles A. Igwe, has led to division within UNAA, with the dissident group accused of altering the association’s constitution and rejecting terms of settlement proposed by its Board of Trustees.
The letter concluded by cautioning all invited guests and awardees to avoid participating in the event, warning of potential legal consequences for contempt of court.
