DEEPENING INSTITUTIONAL SYNERGY: COOU GOVERNING COUNCIL PAYS COURTESY VISIT TO COOU TEACHING HOSPITAL'S CHIEF MEDICAL DIRECTOR

The Governing Council of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), led by its Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Prof. Peter Azikiwe Onwualu, on Wednesday, 4th November 2026, paid a courtesy visit to the Chief Medical Director of COOU Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Dr. Maureen Uche Umeakuewulu.

The visit marks a historic first in the University's history, being the first time a Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council has paid an official visit to the Teaching Hospital.

Speaking on the purpose of the visit, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha, first congratulated Dr. Maureen Uche Umeakuewulu on her appointment by the Governor as the Chief Medical Director of the Teaching Hospital.

Prof. Kate Omenugha subsequently emphasised the need to strengthen the institutional relationship between the College of Medicine and the Teaching Hospital, noting that both institutions are mutually dependent and cannot function optimally in isolation of one another.

She accentuate that the existing synergy must not only be sustained but deliberately deepened and translated into practical collaboration that produces tangible outcomes. She further acknowledged that the relationship between the College and the Teaching Hospital had contributed to the National Universities Commission's (NUC) approval of 16 new courses, several of which are medically related.

In furtherance of this objective, the Pro-Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor made passionate appeals to the Chief Medical Director, amplifying the importance of closer cooperation, mutual support and a more functional relationship between both establishments.

In her response, Dr. Maureen Uche Umeakuewulu expressed appreciation to the Governing Council for the visit. She acknowledged the importance of deepening the existing synergy and assured the Council that the concerns and appeals presented during the engagement would receive due attention.

Beyond the significance of the courtesy visit itself, it is noteworthy that this formality represents not only the first time a Pro-Chancellor has visited the COOU Teaching Hospital but also the first time in the University's history that the Chairman of the Governing Council has undertaken a tour of the University's campuses.

©️ COOUNewS, 2026.