UNIZIK Agric Faculty Hails Outgoing Dean, Prof. Ebenebe over Exceptional Stewardship

By Praise Chinecherem

Members of Staff of Faculty of Agriculture, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka have praised outgoing Dean of the Faculty, Prof Cordelia Ebenebe for her contributions and exceptional stewardship.

The commendations came during a ceremony held at the Faculty to mark the end of her two year tenure, 8th June 2023–8th June 2025.

A former Dean of the Faculty, Prof Uchenna Onugwu, joined other staff members in acknowledging her remarkable achievements and dynamism.

He said she had done quite a lot of collaborations as regards to their permanent site project at Ifite Ogwari as well as healthy partnership with the state government on economic trees, oil palm and coconut economy.

On his part, Dr Uko Ibeabuchi, Sub Dean of the Faculty, lauded her purposeful leadership qualities, calling her a visionary who used team work to achieve results.

According to him, she has added value to the faculty taking it to another level, attracting collaborations, capacity building, scholarship and employment opportunities for students, expansion of commercial agriculture, food fairs and conferences.

Among others commending her, Dr Ngozi Obiekwe, Head of Department of Agric Economics and Extension, praised her dedication, impactful leadership and hardwork, which she said changed the narrative of the faculty.

She expressed gratitude for Prof Ebenebe’s efforts in capacity building programmes, partnerships and innovative ideas.

While performing the unveiling ceremony of a book titled, “Beyond Expectations: The Annals of Prof Cordelia Ebenebe Deanship Tenure” Prof Caleb Ezeano, Dept of Agric Economics/Extension, Obiekwe described Prof Ebenebe’s tenure as eventful.

She noted that the book reflected the stewardship and achievements of the outgoing Dean and encouraged others to follow her example

Presenting an account of her two year stewardship encapsulated in the book, Prof Ebenebe said the celebration was a testament of the good working relationship existing among them.

She noted that upon assuming office, she adopted a peace building strategy to tackle polarization challenges so as to put the faculty’s activities back on track.

She expressed hope that since the Deanship was a continuum, the incoming Dean would build and consolidate on the achievements recorded.

” It has been a glorious two years. While I was praying I mentioned that among the things I asked God, I said some people’s Deanship tenure was truncated by strike action and Covid 19. I prayed and asked God let it be a hitch free tenure and God granted me that.

“So all those things that were in my mind to do, I was able to do all of them. I want to say it has been a journey of praise, a journey of thanksgiving in this two years.

“I hope that the same way every individual contributed to my success, same way they will contribute to the success of the next one,” she stated.