Nonye Soludo’s Desperation the Questionable Honorary Doctorate and Illegal Appointment of COOU Vice-Chancellor

Amid growing controversy, Nonye Soludo, wife of Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, was conferred an honorary doctorate degree in Public Health and Nutrition by Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) in May 2025.

While officially recognized for her “Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo” initiative, critics argue the award reeks of favoritism given the timing and political context within the university she indirectly oversees.

The controversy deepens with the August 6, 2025 appointment of Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha as substantive Vice-Chancellor (VC) by Governor Soludo despite COOU laws requiring the Governor to choose from a merit-ranked shortlist submitted by a joint Council and Senate committee.

The recommended top candidate, Professor Chike Osegbue, was unlawfully bypassed by Governor Soludo in favor of Omenugha, who was not among the top three candidates.

Osegbue has challenged the appointment legally at the National Industrial Court, describing it as illegal, arbitrary, and a violation of university procedures.

Meanwhile, the legitimacy of Omenugha’s leadership is shadowed by prior fraud allegations. Critics see the honorary doctorate granted to Mrs. Soludo as a political payoff linked to the VC appointment, further politicizing COOU’s governance.

Observers assert that honorary degrees should celebrate genuine merit rather than political expediency. The opacity surrounding these developments threatens COOU’s institutional integrity and reflects poorly on the Soludo administration’s claims of evidence-based governance and transparent leadership.

As legal battles continue, public outcry grows over perceived nepotism and disregard for due process at COOU—calling into question whether the honorary degree and VC appointment will endure the scrutiny of justice and public opinion.

Written by Darlington Okonkwo at COOU, Igbarian Campus.