BY ABUCHI OBIORA (Editor-at-Large, Education Monitor Newspaper)
The recent appointment of Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma as the Vice-Chancellor of National Open University of Nigeria is a perfect case of who the cap fits, let him wear it.
We will look at some of the reasons amongst many of them why we have come to this conclusion in this citation which we dedicate to this erudite and seasoned Professor of Philosophy and Logic, the sixth in line of persons to be appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN since the inception of the University in 1981.
A Barrister-at-law, Prof Uduma Oji Uduma will be taking over at the helms in NOUN from Professor Olufemi Peters on February 11, 2026.
Standing to his credit as a square peg in a square hole, Prof Uduma Oji Uduma has extensive experience in the academia which spans a period of thirty five years. These experiences were gotten within the conventional and Open/Distance (ODEL) learning system.
The space available here may be too little to articulate even a fraction of the Prof’s multidisciplinary experiences across the conventional and Open University System where he has served but let us take some of them here.
In NOUN, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma has held various academic and administrative positions including Head of Department, Director of General Studies, Director of Academic Planning and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic). Additionally, he has served as the Study Centre Director in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State where he increased student enrollment from 496 to over 2000.
In the conventional University system, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma garnered more experiences as he played roles which included being the Director of Planning, Dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences at Evangel University, Director of General Studies and Head of the Department of Philosophy at Ebonyi State University. He also had the privilege to serve as the Chairman of Senate Committees of several Universities where he acquired first-hand knowledge of core issues in University administration.
In regard to his wide experience in academic matters, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma worked as a team mate with other accomplished Professors to contribute in fostering academic excellence at several Universities including University of Lagos, University of Portharcourt, Ebonyi State University, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, University of Uyo, and Bingham University, among others.
More of his experiences in academic matters were both obtained and showcased in various forms and in different Universities such as University of Calabar, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Imo State University, etc, etc, where he anchored quality assurance and research initiatives as an External Examiner.
Before we continue, let us get some background information about the Professor. Born of a humble parentage on 13th January, 1966 in Ebonyi State of South Eastern Nigeria, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma earned his first degree in Philosophy from the University of Calabar where he graduated as the best student in his faculty. He later obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Philosophy from the University of Lagos.
He also studied law among other disciplines and was called to the Nigerian Bar as a registered member of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2007. In Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma can be seen a man from his University days who matched brilliance with intelligence, hard-work and resilience. No wonder he scored many ‘firsts’, attaining excellence many times in pursuit of his life ambition.
Rising through the ranks as a quintessential teacher and administrator performing both his academic and administrative functions within the Ivory Towers in his stewardship in the education sector of Nigeria, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma served in different capacities as are randomly selected below as, Professor of Logic and Philosophy; Head, Department of Philosophy; Adjunct Professor of Logic and Philosophy; Adjunct Senior Lecturer; Visiting Senior Lecturer (Sabbatical); Senior Lecturer in Philosophy; Head, Department of Philosophy; Director, General Studies; Head Department of Philosophy and Religion; Assistant Research/Project Manager; Coordinator, General Studies (Lecturer I); Assistant Lecturer (Lecturer II); Graduate Assistant; Admin Officer (NYSC); Supervisor of Postgraduate Scholars; Internal Examination of PhD and M. Phil Thesis, etc, etc.
With cognate knowledge and experience in ICT jet-age system of information dissemination acquired through his various exposures in ICT resources such as in Google Cyber Security Professional Certification and Google Project Management Professional Certification, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma is adequately equipped to enhance the online teaching method which is an essential part of NOUN mandate in ensuring that University education reaches the doorstep of anyone who cares to have it irrespective of whichever location of the world the person may reside in.
Apart from his major academic certifications which are too numerous beyond what we may enumerate here, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma is affiliated with many professional groups where he is either a fellow or a member. These organizations will be too numerous to mention here also, so, for the reason of lack of space, suffice to say that among them are, Fellow, Philosophers, Association of Nigeria; Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration; Fellow, International Institute of Chartered Educational Practitioners; Member, Nigerian Institute of Management; Member Society for Peace Studies and Practices, Member, Council for Research in Values and Philosophy, Washington DC, USA, etc, etc.
Among the intellectual works and publications of Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma are many books and articles in local and international journals published overtime during his long engagement in academic research and pursuit. These works also will be too numerous to mention here because they run into hundreds but suffice also to say that the erudite, vast and versatile Professor has immensely contributed handsomely to the body of knowledge in his multi-disciplinary research efforts which covers Philosophy, Logic, Law, Management, Journalism, and Public Relations.
His works and publications can be located in any good library or centers for deposition of research work around the world. Additionally, the works of this multi-disciplinary scholar and academics are cited around the world as veritable references in related research endeavors and constantly reviewed and quoted in sundry academic forums.
At this point of the citation and as we take cognizance of the deep knowledge and wide experience of Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma to handle issues both academic and administrative in the position to which he has been appointed, it is pertinent to speculate or better, to ruminate on the expectations of the Nigerian and International academic community in leaps and bounds from this vast and versatile man of letters as his tenor in the office as the Vice Chancellor of NOUN lasts.
For one thing, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma is expected to leverage on his deep knowledge of ICT and the use of technology to deliver quality education and promote lifelong learning for people who may wish to be part of the revolution in mass literacy which his tenor as the Vice Chancellor of NOUN is sure to bring about.
As the in-coming Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma is expected to drive the University’s continued growth and success, building on the progress already made in the University by Professor Olufemi Peters and the four other distinguished Professors who earlier occupied that prestigious and high-end position.
Among the areas which we hope shall be positively impacted as the tenor of the incoming Vice-Chancellor of NOUN shall be strengthening post-graduate programme; improving digital infrastructure; expanding access through enhanced student enrollment and outreach particularly in undeserved and yet-to-be-reached regions, enhancing quality assurance through high academic standards, vigorous accreditation and quality control measures; increased international partnerships through collaborations with global institutions for the purpose of academic excellence and research; improved research and introduction of innovations by the way of strengthening research output and academic excellence across the Faculties and Departments in the University, and finally, we also expect that the tenor of Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma as the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN shall bring forth a golden era of institutional efficiency which will be driven by staff development and the smoothening of the institution’s operational systems and processes upon which the academic and administrative activities of NOUN thrive.
As we get close to ending this citation for the erudite Prof. we must observe that in spite of the stiff competition which trailed the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor for NOUN and the bad blood which possibly may have been generated from the process, it is doubtful if any other contestant to the office of NOUN Vice-Chancellor is better qualified and equipped than Pro. Uduma Oji Uduma, B.A (Hons) Phil; LL.B (Hons.); B.L (Nig); PhD Logic; FPAN; FCAI; FICRPC; FIIA; FIICCP; ChMC; MNIM; Fibs; JP; for the exalted office, not minding the not-too-unusual cases of “sense of entitlement” which may have been nursed by some of the competitors to the exalted office. Though not so good, this normally happens when such a high-end vacancy is due to be filled either in the public or the private sector.
Competition and consequent bad blood is also normal in any stiff contest where giants, intellectual giants like Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma and his colleagues participated. What will be abnormal is not to join hands by parties who did not make it in the competition to lift the fortunes of NOUNS to higher level, after a Vice-Chancellor has been appointed.
Finally, to this vast, versatile, multi-talented and multi-disciplinary, erudite scholar and academic, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, we say welcome, Sir, on board the ship of NOUN which we are sure, you will, with your huge knowledge and deep experience, enable us to sail in better and safer waters.