By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
The members of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka Branch, on Saturday, 25 June 2024 organized a Send-off Party for the outgone Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK, Professor Charles Esimone, FAS, to appreciate and honour him for what they described as eventful and successful tenure in office.
The body, during the event, honoured deserving individuals, including the Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Anambra State Council, Comrade Humphrey Nwafor, KSJI; as well as the Vice Chancellor of the citadel of learning, Esimone; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Professor Joseph Ikechebelu, among others.
Honouring the outgone Vice Chancellor alongside the NLC boss who doubles as the NASU Anambra State Council Chairman, the Chairman of NASU, UNIZIK Branch, Comrade Ikegulu Chukwugozie Innocent, paid a glowing tribute to the two leaders, describing them as go-getters with finesse and panache who had overtime proven themselves in their various constituencies and respective domains.
‘We are here today to celebrate our outgoing Vice Chancellor for leaving an indelible mark on the sands of time. He has performed exceedingly well and deserved to be appreciated and honoured. Our Vice Chancellor has done so well. We are happy with him. This is five years of quality service. We choose today to celebrate an icon. He has done noble.
‘These individuals we are honouring today, are people with proven integrity and capacity. Leaders with Midas touch. We are happy to honour and appreciate them all. NLC Anambra State Council Chairman is our own. He has shown his capacity as a great labour leader. He came prepared and we are seeing the outputs. We are not given to giving awards randomly, we look out for people who have performed and honour them, as a way of spurring them on. They were carefully selected,’ he said.
Speaking during the event, the Chairman of the occasion, Comrade Humphrey Nwafor, thanked the outgone Vice Chancellor for what he had been able to do in the University, adding that he would be sorely missed by all. The Labour Leader applauded the branch for coming up with the idea, stating that he was more than excited immediately he heard about it and urged the branch to maintain and sustain the tempo.
Comrade Nwafor commended Comrade Ikegulu’s Leadership and asked him to continue to think out ways to drive and move the association forward, saying that he was impressed with the branch’s progress.
Speaking shortly after receiving his award, Professor Esimone extolled NASU UNIZIK Branch for the honour done him. Expressing his delight over the award, he promised to give to the association (NASU, UNIZIK Branch) his salary for the month of May, which, he said, would be the last he would receive as a Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK, noting that the money should be used to start their permanent secretariat.
He announced that he would sow his entire month of May salary after removing his tithe as a seed to NASU UNIZIK Branch and would ensure that the proposed secretariat saw the light of day.
‘I am sowing this seed after removing my tithe to NASU. My last as Vice Chancellor. It is a prophetic declaration. NASU will get their Permanent Secretariat here in UNIZIK. I am not mincing words. I am a man of God. I have prayed over it. My wife here is equally in support. I didn’t actually prepare for it, but, I am speaking as directed. My salary for the month of May will go to NASU after removing my tithe. I will see to the completion of the Secretariat,’ Esimone concluded.
