As rectors are to Polytechnics, so are Vice-Chancellors to Universities. The University of Lagos has quite a rich history not known to many. Of course for one reason or the other, you may be required to carry out proper research into the history of UNILAG (University of Lagos) and this wouldn’t be complete without knowing the first VC of Unilag.
Sometimes universities provide an archive section on their websites where history of past VCs and their achievements are updated for new students of the institution as this is a basic knowledge which every student ought to have for being a student of the institution.
Dr Eni Njoku
In the course of my findings, i visited the about us page of unilag’s official website hoping to find a link to the archives of the first VC of the university but to my amazement, i found nothing close to such. And i said to my self, does it mean history means nothing to the management of this institution? Well that is a discussion for another post, i then took it upon myself to make few enquiries and after deep search online and questions from past graduates of the school, i was able to come up with these piece of vital information.
Please if you have any info not included here in the course of reading this post, kindly get in touch with us via the comment section below and we shall update the current article.
Full Biography of The First Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG (University of Lagos) – Professor Eni Njoku
Do you know that Professor Eni Njoku is the first VC in Nigeria to hold the position of a VC of the two most powerful and respected universities in Nigeria (UNILAG and the University of Ibadan)? We have compiled not just the summary of his bio-data but a comprehensive and cursory look into his personal and career life as this would help give a 360 degree information about him.
SUMMARY OF ENI NJOKU’S BIOGRAPHY
BIOGRAPHY OF THE FIRST VC OF UNILAG – ENI NJOKU | |
| NAME | Eni Njoku |
| Date of Birth | 6th of November 1917 |
| Town | Ohafia |
| State of Origin | Abia State |
| Career Line | Educationist |
Surprisingly, unlike what is currently obtainable in our Educational system, not many are aware of the geopolitical origin of the First Vice Chancellor of Lagos state.
Eni Njoku is the first VC of UNILAG, born on the 6th of November 1917 in Ebem, Ohafia, Abia State, he attended Ebem Primary School and the Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar from 1933 to 1936.
He was a students of Yaba College of Technology, formerly known as Yaba Higher School, Lagos from 1937 to 1939 where he obtained a tertiary education certificate.
Professor Eni Njoku did not stop at just acquiring a tertiary education certificate, being an intellectual by nature and his love for education, he deemed it necessary to add colours to his degree by traveling to the UK to study botany at the University of Manchester in England. Known for his determination to conquer and be the best at whatever he does, the First VC of UNILAG graduated with a first class honors degree in 1947 and further went ahead to obtain an M.A. degree the following year.
Fast forward to 1954, he obtained his doctorate degree (Ph.D) from the University of London and subsequently returned to Nigeria.
How Eni Njoku Career Started
The first class holder took up a teaching job at the University of Ibadan as a lecturer and later rose to the position of a senior lecturer and was further elevated to being a professor, rising through and getting to the position of a professor was a smooth one owing to the passion he had for his job.
Having satisfied the Dean and through recommendations, Dr. Eni Njoku was made head of the department of botany, and further rose to the position of the Dean, Faculty of science. He was chairman of the Electricity Corporation of Nigeria in 1956.
The Year Eni Njoku Became The First Vice Chancellor of UNILAG
Six years after the was made the Chairman of Electtricity Corporation of Nigeria, now PHCN, he became the first vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos in 1962.
A major crisis ensued following his reappointment in 1965 and as a noble gentle man, he resigned his position and was made a visiting professor at Michigan State University, United States.
In 1966, Njoku was appointed the vice-chancellor of UNN (University of Nigeria, Nsukka) until 1967 when the civil war broke out which torn the eastern region of Nigeria apart.
Eni Njoku’s International Appointments
Professor Eni Njoku was appointed under the the United Nations Advisory Committee on the Application of Science and Technology as well as the UNESCO Advisory Committee in Natural Sciences where he served as a served board memener of the Commonwealth Scientific Committee.
The First VC of UNILAG also served on the councils of the Universities of Zambia and Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo) where he authored several books and articles in international journals.
Professor Eni Njoku’s Awards
The Ohafia born professor was awarded an honorary D.Sc. degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsuja in 1964, 1966, an honorary doctor of laws degree was conferred on him by Michigan State University and in 1973 University of Lagos awarded its first vice-chancellor an honorary D.Sc. degree.
Prof. Enj Njoku’s Death
Professor Eni Njoku died on the 22nd of December 1974 though the actual cause of his death is still unknown till date, information have it that he died after a brief illness and till date his name will always remain on the history books as the first Vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG)
Hope this was informative enough? Your opinions are of immense value to us, we would love to hear from you should you have any information related to the biography of the First VC of UNILAG as this could be of great value to others in need of such information.
