Former head, Department of Languages and Linguistics, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu- Alike, Ebonyi State, Dr Mrs Onyinye Anne Nwankwo, who is currently AE- FUNAI TETFund Desk Officer, on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, hosted special transition ceremony in her office, where mantles of headship of her former single Department were handed over to two Heads of two new Departments as the former has been split into Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, as one and Foreign Languages as another.


Dr Anne Nwankwo DELIVERING HANDOVER SPEECH
Dr Nwankwo started her handover speech by praising God Almighty for His grace and protection throughout her one year in office as pioneer Head of Department of Languages and Linguistics, having assumed office on September 1, 2019. She thanked the Vice- Chancellor, Prof Chinedum Nwajiuba for giving her the opportunity to serve and benefit from one of his core responsibilities which is “… growing young talents to perfection”. She recounted the initial challenges of not having the required human and material resources to start the new Department, which was then demerged from the defunct Department of Languages/ Linguistics/ Literary Studies/ Theatre Arts (LLLTA), in response to the wave of transformation sweeping over the young and fast growing university. She stressed that despite the challenges, the new Department never relented in getting the work done as required. As the HOD, she was charged with receiving NUC Verification team, just a month into her resumption of duty. According to her, “the priority of the young Department was to succeed against all odds by ensuring that the Programmes became successfully verified”. With the full support of the Vice Chancellor and to the glory of God, the four undergraduate programmes and two Post-graduate programmes received NUC approvals. This she enthused was a dream come true.


DR MRS NWANKWO PRESENTING HANDOVER NOTE TO DR MRS OKOLO
Dr Nwankwo revealed that one of the techniques she adopted to succeed was delegation of duties to committees set up to take charge of the various functions, including Examinations, Students Discipline, Appraisal, Quality Assurance, and that she, as HOD, was member of each of the committees. “ She encouraged them to continue with that. She made bold to state: “During this time, the Department was opportune to witness the birth of two Professors: Nnenna Nwosu and Eugenia Nnenna Mbanefo as well as a Reader, Dr Samao Yong. We are still hoping for the birth of another Reader”. She also projected that soon a Departmental journal will be in place and that the Department has produced a GST Igbo Curriculum which has been presented to the Senate for approval. The former Head of Department did not hesitate to mention that the department admitted 112 students during 2019/2020 academic session.


DR MRS NWANKWO HANDING OVER TO DR MRS ONUORA
For all these achievements, Dr Anne Nwankwo reiterated her gratitude and indebtedness to VC, Prof Chinedum Nwajiuba and Prof Nnenna Nwosu- Nworuh, Dean Faculty of Humanities, for their unalloyed support and encouragement. She also expressed profound gratitude to Professors Onukawa, Iwu Ikwubuzo, Nwokoye , Mbanefo, Dr Uguru and Dr Ugwuona for their sacrifices and all her colleagues for their relentless commitment. She urged all the staff and students , to continue working together to ensure that the dream of building a great Department, Faculty and University is realized. She charged them to extend the same full support and hand of fellowship to the incoming Heads of Departments. Dr Nwankwo urged the two new Heads of Departments to do their best to keep the raised flag flying even higher. While assuring them of her support and readiness to answer their questions and clear any grey area in the hand over note when the need arises, she prayed that God will bless them and their tenures.


DR MRS OKOLO MAKING ACCEPTANCE SPEECH
The new Heads of Departments, Dr Theresa Ngozi Onuora, Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, and Dr Chinwe Okolo, Foreign Languages, took turn to appreciate their predecessor, Dr Mrs Anne Nwankwo for setting the pace, laying the good foundation for the Departments and for providing accurate road map for the way forward. They promised to put in their very best in ensuring that her efforts and those of the Faculty and University authorities in achieving academic excellence will not be in vain. They both requested the former Head of Department to always make herself available as they would, from time to time need her attention, in the spirit of teamwork, as had been the tradition in the former Department under her headship. They prayed that God will guide and sustain her and themselves in their new assignments.


DR MRS ONUORA SPEAKING AT THE EVENT



DR MRS NWANKWO FLANKED BY DR MRS OKOLO(L), DR MRS ONUORA(R) AND UNIVERSITY OFFICERS

(L –R) DR MRS OKOLO, DR MRS NWANKWO AND DR MRS ONUORA