Residents of Imo state particularly keen observers of happenstances in institutions of higher learning have described the Vice Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education (AIFUE) Owerri, Professor Stella Ngozi Lemchi as a distinguished university administrator and transformational leader needed at a time like this in her institution.
Many of them who randomly spoke to NIGERIAN NEWSGUIDE weekend on the sidelines of various facelift of facilities and resource upgrades witnessed at the new university agreed that Prof Lemchi would certainly leave indelible footprints in the sands of time upon the completion of her tenure.
President General of Ezenomi Uzoagba community in Ikeduru LGA of Imo state Nze Nnamdi Ijezie in his submission noted that Alvan Ikoku Federal University under Prof Mrs Stella Lemchi has been marked by infrastructural rehabilitation, academic‑status consolidation, and advocacy for entrepreneurship‑driven education.
Ijezie explained that for a newly converted university to witness such a rapid upgrade in a short time speak volume of the Vice Chancellor’s leadership dexterity.
For Rev Bon Anunonwu, an Anglican cleric and former student of the institution, the Vice Chancellor played a frontline role in securing AIFUE’s recognition as a full federal university, presided over the last matriculation exercise under affiliation with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), symbolizing the institution’s full operational independence as a university‑level system alongside other enviable achievements in the areas of
Infrastructure and students’ welfare.
The Coordinator General, Southeast Development Ambassadors Network (SEDAN) Sir Chidi Emeagi in his own assessment, mentioned Lemchi’s overseeing of major hostel renovation drive, funded by the federal government revitalisation Fund, including a heavy‑duty refurbishment of one male hostel and one female hostel, with future plans to upgrade others.
According to Emeagi, Prof Stella Lemchi’s administration saw the renovation of the school’s medical centre and addressed several infrastructural gaps to improve campus comfort and safety as well as
academic and accreditation milestones,
clearing of backlog of promotion arrears for staff from 2018 up to her tenure, improving morale and bureaucratic efficiency alongside ensuring industrial harmony.
Other landmark achievements under Lemchi which were commended by Imolites include curriculum and entrepreneurship development leading to the development of a new Entrepreneurship‑driven Curriculum for Home Economics Education in Nigeria, designed to equip students with 21st‑century workplace and entrepreneurial skills, championing and integration of entrepreneurship and skills‑acquisition programmes into the academic framework, aiming to make graduates more job‑creating and self‑reliant rather than job seekers upon graduation.
A distinguished scholar at Imo state university Owerri and former chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Owerri branch Engr Prof Luke Uzoigwe particularly commended Prof Lemchi for ensuring security of students and lecturers on campus alongside administrative and academic reforms that had positioned the institution as a leading university of education in Nigeria in short time.
Prof Uzoigwe who is the Head, department of Petroleum and Gas Resources IMSU, Owerri lauded Alvan university VC for
initiated measures to upgrade campus security, including the deployment of highly trained security personnel, to create a safer learning environment.
He remarked that the recent accreditation of new programs by NUC under Lemchi highlights the Vice Chancellor’s commitment to making the institution the primus inter-peres among other varsities of education in the shortest possible time.
The erudite scholar believes that the ongoing recruitment exercise at AIFUE would fill the human resource gaps in the existing and newly created departments and faculties such the institution will soon emerge a pacesetter.
In broad terms, Prof Stella Lemchi’s achievements as Vice‑Chancellor Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education basically centres on institutional rebirth, infrastructural modernization, and full accreditation of programs and courses.
