Wednesday 26th February, 2020, Ash Wednesday, was very special for Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, as the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba held a special spiritual driven celebration of his 4th year in office with the women of the University exclusively, enjoining them to pray fervently for whoever would take over from him as Vice-Chancellor.


VC, Prof Nwajiuba addressing AE-FUNAI Women

Prof. Nwajiuba, who became Vice-Chancellor of the University on 26th February, 2016, disclosed to the women at the University Main Auditorium, venue of the event that “I called you for us to pray for our University. Today is 26th February, 2020. Exactly four years ago, God made it possible for me to step in as the Vice-Chancellor of this University”, reminding them that he was told that before his coming on board, women of AE-FUNAI, five years ago, prayed for the right Vice-Chancellor to come and that he has been told by many of that, God answered their prayers. He therefore urged them to start praying for the next Vice-Chancellor, who will take over from him, trusting that God will harken again to the cry and prayers of women as exemplified in the story of Mary Magdalene, in the book of John 20:11-18, the only scripture reading of the day, taken by Dr. Mrs Chinyere Nwajiuba, President of AE-FUNAI Women Association.

Prof. Nwajiuba told the women that the process for choosing a new VC to take over will start sometime this year, when his tenure ends in February, 2021, he trusts in the power of God since he has no power of his own, stating unequivocally that AE-FUNAI is a divine project and all the good things on ground, from infrastructure and human resources development, academic excellence, cordial community relationship to everything that happen here, is divine.


Cross section of AE-FUNAI Women with Dr. Mrs Nwajiuba (L) and Mrs Odisa Okeke(R) sitting in front

Elucidating the consequences of getting a new Vice-Chancellor that is not God’s choice, Prof. Nwajiuba noted that persistent prayers by the women, is the key to having a VC that will make them happy. “Let us start that prayer and I give that back to the women. The meeting was spiritually enriched with sessions of prayer led by Dr. Tine Nwaeze, and rendition of praise and worship songs.


Prayer, Praise and Worship session

The Vice-Chancellor expressed his abhorrence for sycophancy, nothing, according to Duncan in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, that “There is no art to find the mind’s construction on the face…” As he would always say, Prof. Nwajiuba concluded in these words| ‘‘I have raised the flag, that is my responsibility to do, but having raised the flag, it shall be your duty to keep the flag flying”. He pledged in keeping with the parable of the talents to continue to work with the same zeal and passion for the development of the university till his last day in office, conscious of the fact, that at the end we shall account to God, who has given this opportunity.

President of AE-FUNAIWA, Dr. Mrs. Chinyere Nwajiuba, affirmed to the Vice Chancellor that the women have been praying for the sitting Vice-Chancellor and will continue to pray for the will of God to manifest in the choice of the next VC for the young but fast growing University. The Registrar, Mrs. Odisa Okeke, gave the vote of thanks.