Chief Osita Chidoka, Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership and former Minister of Aviation, has advocated for the creation of a N100 billion endowment fund to enhance Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) and elevate it to the level of Africa’s top universities.
In his keynote speech as the Guest Lecturer at the 3rd Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Lecture, Chidoka encouraged stakeholders to establish COOU as a center for developing innovative solutions to critical issues like erosion, insecurity, and sustainable development, focusing on Igboland and Nigeria as a whole.
Chidoka emphasized that Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University should not only honor the name of a great leader but also reflect his legacy by becoming a hub of excellence and innovation. He added, “This endowment will ensure the university’s ability to support pioneering research, offer scholarships, and maintain world-class infrastructure, regardless of budgetary fluctuations.”
Chidoka also urged the government to embrace what he called the “Elitism of Ability,” citing the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) as a model. He pointed out that Indians are leading major global tech companies such as Microsoft, Alphabet (Google’s parent), Adobe, and IBM, attributing their success to the strong foundation built by the IITs.
“The IITs are internationally acclaimed for their merit-based selection processes, which produce top-tier engineers and innovators. Nigeria must adopt this approach to cultivate talent, foster development, and ensure a prosperous future,” he added.
Chidoka expressed regret over Nigeria’s higher education system failing to reach the level of rigor and global integration seen in the IITs. He stated, “Despite having many universities and a wealth of talented, driven students, our institutions lack the necessary resources, global partnerships, and strategic direction to serve as talent pools for global companies or esteemed institutions, which limits the broader impact of education on societal change.”
Chidoka used Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu’s decision to join the military despite his privileged background as a symbolic example, stating, “Education is not a path to comfort but a foundation for courage and purpose.” He stressed that education should foster values, civic responsibility, and a commitment to tackling societal issues.
“Who, if not us, will create this future? The time to act is now,” Chidoka concluded, issuing this call to action.
The memorial lecture was graced by prominent figures, including Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, who represented Governor Chukwumaife Solidify; former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, who delivered a speech as the special guest of honor and advocated for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB); and Prof. Greg Nwakoby, former Vice-Chancellor of COOU, who chaired the event.
