The Deputy Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) Prof. Chinedu Mafiana Monday assumed duties as the Acting Executive Secretary (ES) of the Commission.
Mr. Mafiana who joined the commission in 2003 as a visiting Prof is expected to occupy the position until the Federal Government announce a substantive ES for the Commission.
He succeeds Prof. Julius Okojie, who had been in that position since August 2006.
Prof. Okojie was first appointed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. His tenure was renewed by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, terminating in August 2016.
Okojie, at a brief handing over ceremony in Abuja, attributed his success and achievements to the collective determination and diligence of both the management and staff of the commission.
According to him, truth, courage and conscience was at the root of his success, urging his successor to maintain those principles for continuous progress that would result in a stronger and world class University system.
Prof. Okojie said: “There is no much secret to my success as the NUC ES than the principles that I have mentioned earlier which includes truth, courage and conscience. And most important of all was the application of the existing laws that was clearly spelt out to guide the administration and regulation of Nigerian university system.
“We have the laws already. So all we did was to apply them where and when necessary, and we were left with no option but to achieve the expected result. Thanks to my great team that have supported me morally and otherwise.”
In an acceptance speech, Mafiana appreciated Okojie for his selfless service, innovations and determination that resulted in obvious success that has been achieved in the past 10 years.
He promised to always maintain the standard and benchmark set by Prof. Okojie
Mafiana solicited the support and collaboration of other management staff as well as the media for the expected result to be achieved.
“For the time that I will spend as the Ag Executive Secretary, I will engender an open door policy, as well as stakeholder’s engagement for a collective success of the system,” he promised.