AN ADDRESS BY THE VICE-CHANCELLOR, KINGSLEY OZUMBA (KO) MBADIWE UNIVERSITY OGBOKO, PROFESSOR IKECHUKWU NOSIKE SIMPLICIUS DOZIE ON THE FAMILIARISATION VISIT TO TRADITIONAL RULERS OF UMUMA-EBENMANO CLAN, IDEATO SOUTH LGA ON JULY 19, 2021.

Your Royal Highnesses, 

Principal Officers of the University, 

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen. 

To the awesome glory of God Almighty and with deep sense of humility and a committed and patriotic sense of responsibility, I am happy to be in your midst today to seek audience and familiarize with you all as traditional rulers and custodians of the culture and traditions of the Umuma-Ebenmano clan in Ideato South LGA, Imo State, Nigeria. This I do by the special grace of God in my capacity as the Vice-chancellor of Kingsley Ozumba (KO) Mbadiwe University (KOMU), Ogboko Ideato South LGA Imo State.

As Your Royal Highnesses know, the purpose of a university is to create knowledge through scholarship and research; transmit knowledge through instruction (i.e.teaching) and lastly; apply knowledge through public service. In other words, universities are created to satisfy specific or general educational needs of a nation through teaching of students, conduct of research and dissemination of knowledge together with other community activities. Therefore, the primary mission of the university is simply, teaching, research and community service.

History now recognises the fact that the Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University was established through the Enactment of the Kingsley Ozumba (KO) Mbadiwe University (Establishment) Law No. 1 of 2021, Imo State of Nigeria by His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma on 18th February, 2021. This Law repealed the Eastern Palm University (Establishment) Law No. 3 of 2019. The Law also established the Kingsley Ozumba (KO) Mbadiwe University as a multi-campus university with the main Campus at Ogboko in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State. Thus, Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University becomes the 42nd State University and the 143rd University in the Nigerian University System and as well, the 2nd Imo State-owned university.

The mandate of KOMU is, "to encourage the advancement of learning in Imo State in particular and Nigeria in general, to hold out to all persons without the distinction of race, creed or sex and to give them the opportunity of acquiring higher education in various fields of study".

To translate this vision into reality, our dear Governor, His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodimma and Visitor to the Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University appointed me Vice-chancellor. I am deeply grateful to the Governor for finding me worthy to serve in this capacity as the Vice-chancellor. I promise to lead KOMU to be a renowned institution for the pursuit of learning and scholarship as envisioned by the Governor and to the benefit of humanity and the glory of God.

My overall vision for KOMU as enshrined in the Law of Establishment is to provide academic, professional and vocational training of high quality, ensuring their integrity and reputation and producing graduates who will compete with their peers in any part of the world. Our core values to drive our vision for the actualization of our mission will be anchored on integrity, excellence, team work, innovation and collaboration.

For us to succeed in the task of building KOMU to be an institution of repute and reckoning and a first choice destination for teeming youths seeking world-class education and qualitative mentorship, we need the support of Government and various critical stakeholders, especially the traditional rulers and host communities.

We cannot gain say the fact that as traditional rulers and custodians of the culture of the land, Umuma-Ebenmano Clan, Ideato South LGA, you are not just stakeholders but very important ones, critical to the achievement of our goal of building a world-class university of deep pride and service to our people and the rest of humanity. Your Royal Highnesses, this is my mission today on this familiarisation visit to seek your wise counsel, seek peace of the land and most importantly seek your blessings as we begin this delightful but challenging task.

We must understand that my task as the Vice-chancellor and a public servant leader is simply to lead the efforts towards providing qualitative education and mentorship to the young men and women who seek KOMU as an institution of choice and train them for self-actualization and to contribute to the common good in society.

As members of our host communities, we appreciate your enormous sacrifices and contributions towards the establishment of this University. Similarly, we thank the former Governor of Imo state, His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha, OON and Visitor to the Eastern Palm University for his vision and positive contributions. Accordingly as Management, we assure you all that we will do our best in deep appreciation of your support and sacrifice through our various Institutional Corporate Responsibilities.

Finally, I am confident that with your firm support, KOMU by the grace of God will be a win-win for everybody in the delivery of her mandate.

Once more, I thank Your Royal Highnesses for finding time from your various busy schedules to be part of this interaction. Thank you for your kind attention. May God bless us all.

Professor Ikechukwu Nosike Simplicius Dozie .

BSc; MSc (Nigeria); PhD (Jos); FPPSN; FPCEHSN; ASIF; FSEPHON 

VICE-CHANCELLOR KOMU