PROFESSORS CATHERINE MADU, FAITH OKOYE AND IFEKA OKEKE EMERGE AS NEW HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS IN UNIZIK FACULTY OF EDUCATION
The Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, on Thursday, June 25, 2026, conducted elections for the emergence of new Heads of Departments (HoDs) in five of its nine academic departments.
The election, held at the Faculty Boardroom, covered the Departments of Adult Education, Educational Management and Policy, Health Promotion/Public Health Education, Library and Information Science, and Human Kinetics and Sports Science.
At the end of the exercise, Professor Catherine Madu was returned unopposed as Head of the Department of Adult Education after being certified eligible for the position. She is the incumbent Head of Department, having assumed office on December 6, 2025.
In the Department of Educational Management and Policy, Professor Faith Ogechukwu Okoye emerged as the new Head of Department, receiving the unanimous endorsement of all thirty-eight (38) accredited voters.
The election for the Department of Health Promotion/Public Health Education, however, did not produce a Head of Department. The sole candidate, Professor Ibeagha Emeka Jonathan, was disqualified for not meeting the University’s eligibility requirements. According to the guidelines approved by the University Senate, a former Head of Department must have spent a minimum of four years after leaving office before becoming eligible to contest for the position again.
Similarly, Professor Ifeka Ejikeme Okeke was elected as the new Head of the Department of Library and Information Science after securing the endorsement of all seventeen (17) accredited voters.
In the Department of Human Kinetics and Sports Science, the sole candidate, Professor Okey Ogu, failed to secure the required support, as four of the six accredited voters cast “No” votes against his candidature.
Speaking after the election, the Returning Officer, Professor Emmanuel Obidimma, who is also the Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies, commended members of the Faculty for their orderly conduct, solidarity and commitment throughout the exercise. He described the election as peaceful, transparent and devoid of irregularities.
Professor Obidimma stated that the election report would be forwarded to the Vice-Chancellor and urged members of the Faculty to reconvene on Friday, June 26, 2026, for the conclusion of elections in the remaining departments.
Notable academics present at the exercise included Professor Vivian Nwogbo, former Dean of the Faculty of Education, and Professor Patience Egboka, outgoing Head of the Department of Educational Management and Policy. The Faculty Admin. Officer, Mr. Osondu Nnamdi was also present