By Prosper Mene
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) marked its 25th anniversary with a grand silver jubilee celebration, honoring key figures instrumental in its establishment and growth. The event, held on May 22, 2025, saw Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Ojukwu, and Prof. Uche Azikiwe, widow of Nigeria’s first civilian President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, calling for increased support to elevate the institution to global standards.
The university, founded in 2000 by the late former Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, celebrated its legacy with the conferment of the Ojukwu Legacy Award on notable individuals, including Mbadinuju, the university’s pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Emeritus Prof. Cornelius Ezekwe, former Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Barth Onugbolu, and entrepreneur Chief Emma Bishop Okonkwo. Other distinguished alumni, such as Mr. Ifeanyi Matthew Ihebom and Engr. Paul Okafor, were also recognized for their contributions.
Amb. Bianca Ojukwu, widow of the late Biafran leader Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, after whom the university is named, described the milestone as a celebration of “triumphs, visions, perseverance, and the indomitable Igbo spirit.” She emphasized her late husband’s vision of education as the cornerstone of a nation’s future, noting that COOU embodies his dream of empowering youth to shape their destiny. As a member of the university’s governing council, she commended Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kate Omenugha for her leadership and urged stakeholders to support the institution’s growth.
Prof. Uche Azikiwe applauded the call for support, stressing the need for improvements to ensure COOU reflects the legacy of Ojukwu’s name. Both women praised the university’s progress under past and present administrations but emphasized that more investment is needed to elevate its status.
Prof. Omenugha highlighted COOU’s achievements, noting its growth from humble beginnings to a diverse institution with students from 24 Nigerian states and other African countries. The university now boasts 17 faculties and 73 programs across arts, sciences, technology, law, medicine, pharmacy, engineering, and humanities. She described the jubilee as a celebration of “legacy, valour, excellence, unity, and heritage.”
Chief Emma Bishop Okonkwo, a recipient of the Ojukwu Legacy Award, expressed gratitude for the honor and pledged a N50 million borehole project to address water challenges for students, further demonstrating the commitment of alumni to the university’s development.
The event, attended by prominent figures including Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo, showed the university’s significance as a beacon of education and cultural heritage. Bianca Ojukwu also praised Gov. Soludo for his support, which has drawn national attention, including project commissions by President Bola Tinubu.
The call by Bianca Ojukwu and Prof. Uche Azikiwe for collective support acts as a rallying cry to ensure the university continues to uphold its founding vision while striving for excellence on a global stage.
