…Soludo Appoints Peter Onwualu reflects a preference for technocratic leadership.
Awka, Nigeria — The iNews Times reports that Soludo Appoints Peter Onwualu as Chairman and Pro-Chancellor of the Governing Council of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, in a move widely seen as a strategic step to strengthen higher education governance in Anambra State.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo approved the appointment of Prof. Peter Azikiwe Onwualu, a renowned professor of Agricultural Engineering and former Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC).
The announcement was confirmed on Tuesday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, who described Onwualu as a distinguished engineer and award-winning administrator with decades of experience across academia, research, and public service.
The decision comes at a time when state-owned universities are under increasing pressure to improve academic standards, research output, innovation, and institutional governance.
COOU, formerly known as Anambra State University, remains one of the flagship tertiary institutions owned by the Anambra State Government. As Visitor to the university, Governor Soludo plays a statutory oversight role in appointing key leadership figures to ensure alignment with the state’s broader education and development vision.
According to the statement, Onwualu currently serves as Vice-Chancellor of the African University of Science and Technology, Abuja. His experience in managing academic institutions at the highest level is expected to bring stability and innovation to COOU’s Governing Council.
Observers note that the move in which Soludo Appointed Peter Onwualu reflects a preference for technocratic leadership rooted in academic excellence and administrative competence.
Onwualu has made significant contributions to Agricultural and Materials Engineering in Nigeria. During his tenure at RMRDC, he was instrumental in advancing research policies aimed at enhancing local raw material development, reducing industrial import dependence, and strengthening Nigeria’s manufacturing ecosystem.
Beyond his executive leadership roles, Onwualu has served as a Visiting Professor at the National Universities Commission and as Co-Centre Leader of the World Bank-funded Pan African Materials Institute, demonstrating his international academic engagement.
He has authored over 200 scholarly publications and holds 10 patents, underscoring his strong research profile. In addition, he has received awards from more than 70 organizations and is a fellow of 12 scientific and professional bodies credentials that highlight his broad recognition within the academic and engineering communities.
As part of the restructuring in which Soludo Appointed Peter Onwualu, the Governor also approved the appointment of other members to the COOU Governing Council.
Those appointed include; Chief Christopher Ndubuisi, HRH Igwe Chidiume Oranu, Prof. Josephat O. Ogbuagu, AIG (Rtd.) Sir Chris Ezike.
The newly constituted Governing Council is expected to leverage its members’ diverse professional backgrounds in academia, traditional leadership, security, and administration to reposition the university for greater academic excellence.
The statement emphasized that the new Governing Council members are expected to bring their combined wealth of experience to bear on the governance and strategic direction of COOU.
Education stakeholders in Anambra State believe that the decision in which Soludo Appoints Peter Onwualu aligns with the administration’s broader reform-driven agenda, which prioritizes quality education, innovation, and institutional accountability.
Governor Soludo has repeatedly underscored the importance of education as a cornerstone of Anambra’s development strategy. Analysts argue that strengthening university governance is critical to improving research commercialization, attracting grants, boosting staff development, and enhancing global academic partnerships.
Higher education governance plays a crucial role in curriculum development, funding oversight, academic policy formulation, and long-term institutional planning. With Onwualu’s background in research management and engineering innovation, observers expect a renewed emphasis on science, technology, and applied research at COOU.
The appointment may also encourage deeper collaboration between universities, government agencies, and industry players particularly in agriculture, manufacturing, and materials science sectors central to Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts.
As Soludo Appoints Peter Onwualu, many stakeholders see an opportunity for COOU to consolidate its reputation as a center of academic excellence in the South-East and beyond.
The iNews Times will continue to monitor developments within Anambra’s higher education landscape as the new Governing Council formally assumes office and outlines its strategic roadmap for the university.
