PARTNERSHIP THAT WORKS: COOU VC Visits ASA World Chairman, High Chief Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze

On Sunday, 17th August 2025, in furtherance of her commitment to forging meaningful partnerships, strengthening international collaborations, and driving impactful engagements for Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha FNIPR, led a University Delegation to the palace of High Chief Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze, Chairman of ASA World and the Regent/Onowu of Abagana.

The visit provided an opportunity for the University to deepen ties with a global figure whose influence and philanthropy have long championed the cause of education, health, and human development. High Chief Dr. Anakwenze, who is also the Founder of the Anakwenze Foundation, reiterated his lifelong mission of creating equal opportunities for all ensuring that people live healthy, productive lives while having access to quality education that enables them to reach their full potential. His philosophy dismantles barriers of poverty, prejudice, gender, race, and ethnicity, emphasizing that a strong educational foundation is the bedrock of progress for individuals, communities, and the larger society.

In his remarks, the Regent warmly congratulated Prof. Omenugha on her confirmation as the substantive Vice Chancellor of COOU, describing her appointment as one of Governor Soludo’s wisest decisions for the future of Anambra. He further underscored the urgent need for Ndi Anambra investors and stakeholders to channel their resources into building COOU, reminding all that the University remains the only state-owned institution of higher learning that truly belongs to the people. He assured the Vice Chancellor of his consistent commitment to support COOU—financially, intellectually, and through his vast international networks to advance research, innovation, and academic excellence.

Responding, Prof. Omenugha expressed profound gratitude to High Chief Anakwenze for his warmth and generosity, as well as his long-standing dedication to education. She reaffirmed the University’s resolve to reposition COOU on the global stage through her administration’s guiding philosophy of the 3Vs: Value, Viability, and Visibility. On Values, she emphasized that COOU is a student-centered institution, committed to safeguarding the welfare and amplifying the voices of its students while instilling values that shape the character and mindset of the entire University community. In terms of Viability, she highlighted ongoing efforts to transform the University into a hub of innovation, enterprise, and knowledge-driven development that is sustainable and globally competitive and in terms of visibility, she noted with pride that the University is increasingly being recognized and spoken about within Nigeria and beyond, as COOU steadily claims its rightful place among institutions of repute.

While congratulating him on his Iri ji that is coming up on Tuesday, the Vice Chancellor extended a warm invitation to High Chief Anakwenze to visit COOU again and witness firsthand the transformational work being done, stressing that building a world-class university requires the collective responsibility of government, alumni, philanthropists, and friends of education. For her, education cannot—and should not—be left in the hands of government alone.

The visit concluded with renewed optimism and prospects of a stronger partnership between COOU and ASA World, one that promises to inspire new heights of academic excellence, research breakthroughs, and developmental impact.

Accompanying the Vice Chancellor on the visit were Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics; Prof. Osita Chiaghanam, the Director of Collaboration and Linkages; Prof. Ngozi Joe-Ikechebelu, Former Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences; Prof. Kingsley Nwozor, Prof. Sylvia Okonkwo and Dr. Harrison Madubueze.

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