The Governing Council of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igboariam, Anambra State, has declared the position of vice chancellor of the institution vacant.

This was contained in a statement issued in Awka on Thursday by the institution’s registrar, Chris Obi.

Mr Obi said the council, therefore, invited applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position.

Mr Obi, also the secretary of the council, said the announcement was effective from January 2 and would last for eight weeks.

Mr Obi said applicants should be professors with cognate experience in university leadership, teaching, and research.

He said, “The vice-chancellor shall hold office for a single, non-renewable tenure of not more than five years subject to good behaviour.’’

Mr Obi said the applicants should possess a minimum of at least 15 years of experience in teaching, research, service, and/or leadership in the university system within or outside Nigeria.

He added that such an individual should have demonstrable qualities in academic and moral leadership.

He said vacancy excludes those who would be 65 years old at the date of appointment and shall also possess a doctorate degree in a field of study tenable in the university.

He stated, “The candidate shall provide evidence of successful supervision of postgraduate students, especially at the Ph.D. level. The candidate shall be physically and mentally fit to undertake the duties required of a vice-chancellor and other assigned functions as directed by the university governing council. They should accompany their applications with a written essay spelling out his or her vision and ambitions for the university.’’

This, he said, should include an indicative sequencing or implementation framework for the ideas in not more than 750 words.

“The referees shall include at least one male and one female, including a non-Nigerian conversant with the work, ideas, values and abilities of the candidate. The reference shall include an explicit certification that the candidate has had no hand in the preparation of the confidential report to be forwarded directly to the registrar,” Mr Obi said.

He said the vacancy was open to all persons irrespective of sex, race, ethnicity, place of origin, religion, political affiliation, nationality and class.

(NAN)