…as Soludo Appoints Kukah to Boost Global Links at the Anambra University.
AWKA, Nigeria — The iNews Times reports that the Anambra State government has made a significant academic leadership appointment as part of ongoing reforms in higher education, with the announcement that Governor Chukwuma Soludo Appoints Kukah as the new Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.
The appointment of Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, marks a major step aimed at strengthening international partnerships, promoting ethical leadership, and enhancing the global visibility of the state-owned university.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Christian Aburime, who described the appointment as a strategic decision aligned with the state’s broader education reform agenda.
With the headline development that Soludo Appoints Kukah, the governor’s decision is being viewed as a deliberate effort to leverage Bishop Kukah’s extensive international network and intellectual reputation to reposition the university for global engagement.
According to the statement, the appointment is expected to foster international collaborations, inspire value-based leadership among students, and promote the production of graduates who are both academically sound and ethically grounded.
Education stakeholders in Anambra have long called for stronger global partnerships for state-owned institutions, particularly in research, innovation, and academic exchange programmes. The new appointment is seen as a response to that growing demand.
Profile of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah
The statement highlighted Bishop Kukah as an eminent Nigerian cleric, academic, and public intellectual whose career bridges theology, governance discourse, and social advocacy.
He began his academic journey at St. Augustine Major Seminary, Jos, Plateau State, where he studied Philosophy and Theology. He later obtained a diploma in Religious Studies from the University of Ibadan.
Bishop Kukah further advanced his studies at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, earning a Bachelor of Divinity degree. He also obtained a Master’s degree in Peace Studies from the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom and completed a PhD at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, in 1990.
His academic exposure also includes studies at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom and Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States—experiences that have shaped his global intellectual outlook.
Beyond academia, Bishop Kukah is widely recognised for his contributions to national discourse on governance, democracy, and interfaith relations in Nigeria. He is also the founder of The Kukah Centre, a policy and research institution focused on interfaith harmony, governance reform, and civic engagement.
Through the centre, he has led several initiatives aimed at bridging religious divides and promoting policy-driven solutions to Nigeria’s social challenges.
The statement noted that his blend of scholarship and activism aligns with the university’s vision of producing graduates capable of addressing real-world challenges through knowledge and ethical responsibility.
With the development that Soludo Appoints Kukah, stakeholders expect Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University to benefit from enhanced global visibility and strengthened institutional credibility.
The university, located in Igbariam, has in recent years pursued reforms aimed at improving academic standards, infrastructure development, and international partnerships.
Education analysts say the appointment could open new opportunities for research collaborations, visiting professorships, and exchange programmes, particularly with institutions in Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States where Bishop Kukah has academic connections.
Governor Soludo’s administration has consistently emphasized education as a cornerstone of Anambra’s development strategy. The appointment of high-profile figures into academic leadership roles is seen as part of a broader effort to reposition state-owned institutions for global competitiveness.
The iNews Times understands that the move also reflects a growing trend in Nigerian higher education, where universities increasingly appoint globally respected figures into ceremonial and strategic leadership positions such as chancellorships.
The statement stressed that the appointment is not merely symbolic but part of a larger mission to instil ethical leadership and global competitiveness in students.
By appointing Bishop Kukah, the state government aims to reinforce values such as integrity, discipline, and social responsibility within the university community.
As higher education institutions across Nigeria continue to adapt to global standards, leadership decisions such as Soludo Appoints Kukah may signal a shift toward more internationally connected academic governance.
For continued coverage of education reforms, governance decisions, and institutional developments across Nigeria, stay with The iNews Times, your trusted newsroom for accurate reporting.
