Nigeria’s Professor Charles Egbu has been appointed Vice-Chancellor of Leeds Trinity University, in the United Kingdom.
Professor Egbu, who hails from Abatete in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State is the first Nigerian, African and black man to emerge as Vice-Chancellor of a British university.
Understandably, his Nigerian home state of Anambra is thrilled with his accomplishment and the State Governor, Willie Obiano notes that “This is a great moment for, not only the government and people of Anambra State but also all Nigerians and indeed, Africans and Blacks across the globe”.
In a statement in Awka, Anambra State Commissioner for Information & Public Enlightenment C. Don Adinuba quotes Governor Obiano as saying that Professor Egbu’s emergence was a game changer in the history of higher education in a conservative society like the United Kingdom where only last January, the Universities Minister, The Honourable Chris Skidmore, decried the fact that the number of blacks holding senior academic positions in Britain was officially zero.
The Governor said that Professor Egbu reminded all Africans of when Professor Kenneth Onwuka Dike, another indigene of Anambra State, became the first African and Black Principal of the University College, Ibadan, and later emerged its first African and Black Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, which was established in 1948.
Mr. Obiano said that he has no doubt that Professor Egbu will excell in his new role and consequently market Anambra State to the world, and went ahead to list different areas where Anambra people within the state, in different parts of the country and all over the world were demonstrating great competitiveness in education, including:
- Miss Agnes Ego Maduafokwa from Ihiala who made the highest score ever in Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) by getting 365 marks out of a maximum 400 in the 2020 examination while David Nwobi from Nawfia in Njikoka Local Government Area made the second best result in the country.
- Two weeks ago, Dr Chidubem Obi from Ifite Dunu in Dunukofia Local Government Area became the first African to emerge the overall best student in Russia’s oldest and most prestigious medical university.
- Patrick Okigbo III, a member of the Anambra State Vision 2070 Committee set up by Governor Obiano to draw up a strategic plan to make the state fully developed like Dubai within 50 years, was one of the 12 persons across the globe appointed Senior Fellow at John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.
Professor Egbu’s appointment takes him back to Leeds, a city in which he studied and taught, to begin his new role on 1st November 2020.
He will take over from Professor Margaret House, OBE, who will step down after seven years as Vice-Chancellor. Professor House will continue in her role as Vice-Chancellor until the end of October, when Professor Egbu will join the University.
In accepting the appointment, Professor Egbu said he was honoured to be joining Leeds Trinity, a University whose values and ethos around widening participation, offering a personalised approach and encouraging all students to achieve their best, aligns with his own. He said the University had an impressive track record in learning, teaching and employability, and is looking forward to building on the strong foundations established under the leadership of Professor House.
He declared: “I have already been impressed by the sense of community at Leeds Trinity and I am looking forward to engaging with students, colleagues and alumni as we shape the future strategy of the institution. I am also looking forward to returning to Leeds; the city in which I spent much of my early academic life.”
With more than 25 years’ experience in higher education, Professor Egbu was previously Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Experience at the University of East London, where he was responsible for student experience, student success, student retention, quality assurance and enhancement, the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, and the Students’ Union. He is also a member of various external bodies, including the Advance HE Pro Vice-Chancellor Network and QAA Panel of Experts.
Before now, Egbu, a Professor of Quantity Surveying, was Dean of the School of Built Environment and Architecture at London South Bank University and Head of the School of Built Environment at the University of Salford, and held academic posts at University College London, Glasgow Caledonian University and Leeds Beckett University (formerly Leeds Metropolitan).
His research interests focus on project management, construction management and sustainable development – subjects about which he has written 12 books and contributed to more than 350 publications in various international journals and conferences. He has strong links with industry, professional bodies and policy makers, and has managed several large multi-disciplinary research projects.
Jamie Hanley, Chair Designate of the Board of Governors at Leeds Trinity University, said: “Professor Egbu brings with him a wealth of experience and extensive knowledge of the higher education sector. His energy and vision stood out throughout a very competitive recruitment process, and it is clear that he recognises Leeds Trinity’s strengths and values, as well as bringing with him a detailed understanding of the opportunities and challenges faced from across the higher education sector. I very much look forward to welcoming him to Leeds Trinity University.”
Rt. Reverend Marcus Stock, Bishop of Leeds and Ex-Officio Chair of the Board of Governors, added: “Since gaining University status in 2013, Leeds Trinity has gone from strength to strength as one of the three Catholic higher education institutions in the UK. I have no doubt that, under Professor Egbu’s vision and leadership, the Catholic foundation and identity of the University will continue to provide inspiration for its future development and success.”
Since the institution gained University status in 2013, Leeds Trinity has achieved record levels of student enrollments; diversified its income streams with the introduction of accredited work-based learning routes, degree and higher apprenticeships and foundation year courses; transformed its approach to research, resulting in world-leading research and a thriving community of PhD students; and is striving to achieve Research Degree Awarding Powers.
Founded in 1966 as two teacher training colleges, Trinity gained University College status in 2009 and full University status – to become Leeds Trinity University in 2012.
It is ranked in the top 25 UK universities for teaching and course satisfaction and in the top 10 UK universities for ‘value-added’ – a score which compares students’ individual degree results with their entry qualifications to show how effective the teaching at an institution is, according to the Guardian University Guide 2020.
95% of its 3,500 students are employed, or in further study, within six months of graduation and is the only university in the UK to offer and embed two compulsory professional work placements into every undergraduate degree.
Leeds Trinity University was originally founded in September 1966 the institution celebrated its 50-year anniversary in 2016, with celebrations taking place throughout the 2016-17 academic year, including events at the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Cathedral.
