Commentary: The Revolution At Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University

^{WRITTEN BY EMEKA ARINZE}
Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions. This is because, like Robin Sharma said, leadership is not about a title or a designation.

It is about impact, influence and inspiration. Suffice it to say that a new wind is currently blowing at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, in order to remodel it and make the institution a citadel of learning like no other. This follows a revolution being introduced by the new Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Greg Nwakoby, a refined and no nonsense legal luminary of no mean repute.
Prof Nwakoby was sad, surprised and shocked that barely a month he assumed office on March 12, 2018, two students of the university lost their lives in cult-related circumstances. Propelled by the ugly ironic trend that supposedly ushered him into the university, the don swung into action to redirect students going on the left path of life to a make u-turn and proceed to the right, the  universally accepted right and proper side.
A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way. Thus, the Acting Vice Chancellor immediately organized an interdenominational church service in which reformist men of God had a tet-a-tet with the students. The priests and Prof Nwakoby spoke to their hearts and by the end of the programme, about eighty-nine students, like the prodigal sons and daughters, were sober, subdued, solemn and turned a new leaf as well as publicly renounced cultism and other social vices. Prof Nwakoby, in admonishing the students, ascribed cultism as one of the demonic attacks and curses from their families and/or villages working against their graduation and their becoming responsible citizens.
It must be admitted that cultism is one of the major vices confronting the Nigerian educational sector today. These groups have caused the deaths or maiming of many, members and non-members inclusive, while others have ended up in prisons. Secret Cult groups have become a smear on the proper development of the Nigerian youth.
The activities of these groups are anti-social, retrogressive and take various destructive forms which include: torture, advanced fee fraud, making painful inscriptions on the bodies of new members, Voodoo ritual practice, murder, drinking of human blood and urine, taking of hard drugs, holding meetings in unconventional places such as cemeteries, forests, river sides, etcetera. Cultists are equally known to indulge in indecent dressing, intimidation of others, armed robbery, sexual assault, drug addiction and kidnapping. 
According to the acting Vice Chancellor, as at the last count, there were about nine cult groups operating within and outside the university, working against the founding fathers of the institution and against the wishes of parents in sending their children and wards to school, promising to decimate and eventually completely eradicate them. Professor Nwakoby told the students that the primary purpose for which their parents sent them to school, which is to obtain a degree, should be their utmost concern. He was of the opinion that degrees are awarded by universities, if students were found worthy in character and in learning. This assertion presupposes that no student cultist, drug addict, armed robber, prostitute, those who do sorting, absent from classes or involve in exam malpractice is worthy in character to receive the university’s degree.
The university don also marshaled out other revolutionary measures to drive the institution to the top echelon. He directed that henceforth, those caught in examination malpractice must face the full weight of the law, while sorting of lecturers by students, even through class representatives, was banished. Equally, at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, any student who did not attain up to seventy-five per cent attendance in lectures would not be allowed to take examination on the subject.
For randy lecturers, the era of sexual harassment is gone in COOU, whereas selling of text books by lecturers to students has also been outlawed. It would be recalled that, on assumption of office about two months ago, Prof Greg Nwakoby had introduced some reformation policies on project defence and post graduate programmes and promises to carry out more revolutionary policies to enhance the status and viability of the citadel of learning.
In fact, he has directed that henceforth, the last Friday of every month would be dedicated to students who would wish to meet with the Acting Vice Chancellor to air their views unhindered. Prof Nwakoby gave out his direct personal phone number to students for easy communication. He further directed that henceforth, results of every student must be released by lecturers within one month of writing the examination.
No doubt, perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence. The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach full potential are the keys that will unlock the door of excellence to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Above all, from the foregoing, it must be admitted that excellence is an act won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence; we rather have those because we have acted rightly. Prof Nwakoby has acted rightly within his short stay in office. Governor Willie Obiano must therefore be commended for placing a square peg in a square hole.