By Karen Daaor
This month marked a milestone in the life of an academic maestro Prof. Yakubu A. Ochefu a world renowned academic and the winding down of his role as
the Secretary General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities for the last 5 years. A term marked by significant developments, achievements and challenges. Starting from November 2019 to November 2024, the period witnessed dynamic leadership, strategic decision-making, and pivotal initiatives aimed at advancing the quality and stature of Nigerian Universities.
Upon his arrival, his appointment letter contained a mandate from the General Assembly to undertake the following:
1. Re-organize the administration of the Secretariat
2. Harmonize the relationship between CVC and AVCNU
The Secretary-General served as both the Chief Administrative and Finance Officer, overseeing the daily operations of the Secretariat of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU). His responsibilities included promoting the aims of the Association as defined by its statute, implementing CVCNU policy decisions, strengthening existing revenue streams, developing new ones, and providing valuable services to member institutions. Additionally, he oversees the development of contracts and strategic partnerships with other organizations that benefit CVCNU members, positioning the Committee to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
In pursuit of global best practices and cross-cultural exchange, the Secretary-General fostered strategic partnerships and collaborations with international stakeholders, facilitating academic exchanges, joint research initiatives, and capacity-building programs.
Under the administrative leadership of Prof. Ochefu, he created the Human Resources Unit, Communications Unit and the Technological department which were non-existent. He reviewed the CVCNU constitution, increased the workforce from 27 to 48, reviewed staff salaries, created a workable rank band that enables promotion and improved the welfare of staff by initiating capacity and development building training programmes for staff to increase work productivity, enhancing workforce and contemporary best office practices in the 21st century. Successfully regulated CVCNU quarterly meetings of The Board of Trustees, Executive Board and General Assembly meetings for all Vice-Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors of all Federal Universities. Professor Ochefu is passionate about mentoring, and his commitment to giving young individuals the opportunity to grow and build capacity, skill and expertise in any area that one has interests. He derives joy in exploring rare ideas and takes the risk to bring them to fruition by various positive means necessary. Under his leadership at the CVCNU, several individuals were able to obtain fully funded master’s degree scholarships in countries such as China and Russia respectively. Strategically he has initiated and engaged with various local and international educational and non-educational stakeholders, and forged partnerships which are significant in the growth and development of our Nigerian Higher educational system.
The innovation, introduction and launch of the Anti-Plagiarism detection software which was developed by Directors of ICT from five (5) Nigerian Universities in April 2021, this software was developed to help address the search of local and global research databases. Another significant achievement during his tenure is the development of the CVCNU’s Permanent site located at Wuye, this land was purchased in 1993 with an allotted square meter of 10,000 at the Wuye district area of the FCT Abuja. Prof Ochefu with a vision for a permanent site of the CVCNU to be built with the approval of the General Assembly, took up on this project passionately to build an office complex, a virtual complex and a hotel apartment, the ground-breakingwas done in 2022 for the project to officially begin. He identified various initiatives aimed at improving the management and leadership in our higher institutions. This has been achieved through various strategic executive leadership workshops and programmes that have taken place locally and internationally
Professor Yakubu Aboki Ochefu is an academic, University administrator, and entrepreneur. He was born at the 44-Armed Forces Hospital in Kaduna on Monday, October 24, 1960, to the family of Col. Anthony Aboki Ochefu (rtd.) of blessed memory and Mrs Mammy Ochefu.
He started primary school education at Army Children School, Dan-Tunku Road, Kaduna in 1964 and completed at St. Bernadette’s Private School Ibara, Abeokuta in Ogun State in 1971. He started his secondary education at Kufena College Wusasa Zaria in 1972 and completed the same at St. Gregory’s College, Obalende Lagos in 1977. After a one-year stint at the School of Basic Studies Ugbokolo, he proceeded to the University of Calabar in 1978 as the first set of Nigerian students to be admitted into Nigerian Universities through the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board Examinations to study for a B.A. Honours degree in History. He graduated in 1982 as the best student in his class and proceeded to serve the Nation at the Government Day Secondary School in Funtua, Katsina State. In 1983 he enrolled on the postgraduate programme of the Centre for West African Studies at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. He graduated in 1985 with an M.A. degree in Economic History and Political Economy. In the same year, he enrolled at his alma-mater and registered as a part-time student for a PhD programme in Economic History which he earned in 1992.
Professor Yakubu A. Ochefu’s academic career began as an Assistant Lecturer in 1985 at the University of Calabar. He rose through the ranks and by 1992, was a Lecturer Grade one.
In 1993, he joined the Benue State University Makurdi as a pioneer staff, where he helped establish the History Department. In 2003, he was promoted to the rank of Professor of Economic History and Development Studies. At the Benue State University, he held various positions such as Head, Department of History, Dean, Students Affairs, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Director of Consultancy Services and Director of Open and Distance Learning. From 2012 to 2017, he served as the Vice-Chancellor of Kwararafa University, Wukari, Taraba State. He was appointed Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, and Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities in November 2019.
Professor Ochefu is a specialist in Economic History and Developmental Studies and has over 100 publications to his credit. These include sole author, joint author, edited and co-edited books, journals, articles, commissioned technical papers and conference papers. He is a Fellow and former National President of the Historical Society of Nigeria, the oldest professional academic body in the country, and a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters. He is also a special Fulbright Fellow, a World Innovation Summit in Education (WISE) Leadership Fellow and a recipient of the 2016 World Education Congress Award for Academic Leadership in Challenging Environments. He is currently the National President, of the University of Calabar Alumni Association Worldwide, National Chairman, of the Conference of Alumni Association of Nigerian Universities and a Visiting Professor, of Lincoln University in the United Kingdom.
The world and Nigeria especially have heard the last of this academic, the only way to go from here is up and I wish Prof the best in the coming years.
Karen Daaor is the head of the Communications Department at the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities in Abuja