By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Igbariam Campus of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) was agog over the weekend as the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha, marked her 61st birthday in a spectacular, symbolic and academically impactful manner that was climaxed with stage acting and the commissioning of the reactivated and refurbished campus radio station, Ojukwu FM 106.1, after nine years of moribundity.
The occasion, which attracted a large turnout of students, academic and non-teaching staff of the university, kicked off with the majestic arrival of the Vice-Chancellor and her husband, Chief Dr. Mike Omenugha, at the Department of Mass Communication, where the revitalised radio station was officially commissioned for full operation, amid cheers, excitement and renewed hope for practical media training.
Speaking at the event, the Acting Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Dr. Gideon Nwafor, described the day as historic and fulfilling, noting that the revival of the campus radio station marked the end of nearly a decade of institutional silence in practical broadcast training within the department.
He explained that Ojukwu FM had been dormant since 2017, a challenge that significantly constrained students’ exposure to hands-on broadcasting practice, despite the growing demands of the journalism and media industry. According to him, the absence of the station created a gap between theory and practice, which both staff and students had long sought to bridge.
The Head of the Department went memory lane on the journey of the radio station, recounting how it once served as a training ground where students actively participated in news production, presentation, programming and broadcasting before it became moribund operations due to technical and operational challenges.
This, he said, remained the situation since then till the present administration of the new VC, Prof. Omenugha, whom he said found the need to intervene and bring the station back to life — a dream that has finally been actualized. He lauded the VC for her intervention, while also felicitating with her on her new age.
While Highlighting the ongoing transformation in the department, Dr. Nwafor announced that preparations were in top gear for the full unbundling of the Department of Mass Communication into a standalone faculty, in line with global best practices and regulatory expectations. He added that the reactivation of the radio station would significantly strengthen accreditation prospects, enhance research output, and reposition the department as a centre of excellence in media training.
On his own part, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Anthony Agu, reiterated the faculty’s deep gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor for reviving the station, describing the gesture as both visionary and student-centred. He expressed optimism that the station would adequately prepare students for the realities of journalism and mass communication practice when they eventually proceed to industrial training and professional fieldwork.
Prof. Agu also noted that the radio station would serve not only the Department of Mass Communication but the entire faculty and university community, providing a platform for intellectual discourse, public engagement and academic visibility, while adding that the intervention demonstrated the Vice-Chancellor’s commitment to practical education.
Addressing students and participants shortly before cutting her birthday cake amid fanfare and funfair, and ahead of the official commissioning of the station, the celebrant, Prof. Omenugha, said the revival of the radio station was deliberately chosen as part of her birthday activities because of its lasting value to the university.
She stated that the station would serve both the university community and the wider society, functioning as a bridge between the institution and the public. She urged students and users of the equipment to handle them with utmost care, stressing that maintenance culture and professionalism were essential for sustainability.
The Vice-Chancellor lauded the leadership of the Department of Mass Communication, reaffirming her confidence in the ability of Dr. Nwafor to deliver even seemingly impossible tasks within record time. She also reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to transforming COOU into a “University of the Now and of the Future,” driven by relevance, innovation and visibility.
She expressed optimism that Ojukwu FM 106.1 would become one of the best university radio stations in the country, adding that the station would also have an online presence to enable its content reach audiences beyond the shores of Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor later commissioned and toured the facility after which she also made a special inaugural broadcast in the studio alongside the State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, and other senior staff of the institution, formally returning the station to the airwaves.
In her address during the broadcast, Prof. Omenugha described the day as special both personally and institutionally, noting that although the radio station had been silent for years, its voice was never truly lost. She said the reactivation coinciding her birthday was symbolic as the day provided her the platforms to celebrate by doing the two things that she loves most – speaking on radio and acting.
She disclosed that upon assuming office two years earlier, she learnt that the station had been inactive since 2017 and immediately made its restoration a personal goal. She announced that the revival had finally materialised, placing COOU among institutions with functional campus radio stations. She further used the platform to congratulate the Department of Mass Communication for its resilience and dedication.
Reflecting on leadership and service, the Vice-Chancellor stated that her philosophy of leadership was rooted in purpose, empathy and institutional sustainability. She explained that her administration’s “3Vs” mantra – Values, Viability and Visibility – had guided efforts to reposition COOU academically, administratively and socially.
VC Omenugha revealed that the university had quietly but steadily strengthened academic standards, improved staff and student welfare, rebuilt confidence in institutional processes and aligned itself with global realities. She expressed excitement over the commencement of minimum wage payments in line with the Anambra State Government’s policy, while appreciating Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo for his full and steady support.
Explaining why the radio station mattered, Prof. Omenugha described it as more than equipment and frequency, but “a classroom without walls,” a training ground for future communicators, a platform for ideas and innovation, and a bridge between the university and society.
Concluding, she further outlined her vision for the facility, emphasizing that it would be professionally run, student-driven, ethically grounded and nationally respected. She further urged students to see the station as theirs, use it responsibly and creatively, and allow it shape their practice and professionalism in the field.
From there, the Vice-Chancellor proceeded to the Department of English Language, where she was warmly received amid songs, poetry, drama and special performances organised in her honour as part of a “Thank You Visit” that coincided with her birthday.
Spectacularly, the Vice-Chancellor, who is also gifted in acting, showcased her talent on stage as she participated masterfully in a drama presentation by students of the department titled Uzumma, drawing admiration and applause from the audience.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Head of the Department of English, Dr. Ikechukwu Asika, described the visit as a fulfilled promise, a homecoming and a celebration of vision, recalling how the department had believed in Prof. Omenugha’s leadership even before her confirmation.
He narrated how the department had honoured her during the Ọpụlụiche Festival of Arts in 2024 and how she promised to visit the department after her confirmation, a promise he said was fulfilled symbolically on her 61st birthday.
Dr. Asika highlighted numerous milestones recorded by the department under her leadership, including the repositioning of the department as a cultural hub, strengthened research and creative output, revived literary and dramatic traditions, enhanced national and international visibility, student-centred engagement, mentorship, scholarship schemes and the establishment of multiple academic and creative prizes, including the Kate Azuka Omenugha Prize for the Best Graduating Student.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Omenugha expressed gratitude for the reception and reaffirmed her belief in culture, creativity and people as tools for institutional growth. She encouraged the department to sustain its momentum and assured it of continued administrative support.
Graced by son of the Vice Chancellor and Special Adviser to Governor Soludo on Youth Empowerment Programmes, Dr. Nelson Omenugha; the event also featured the official launch of Environmental Officers for the Department of English by the Vice-Chancellor, as well as her commissioning of waste bins donated by the department to promote cleanliness and environmental sustainability.
The twin events equally featured the presentation of birthday gifts to the Vice-Chancellor by various departments, faculties and student groups, alongside goodwill messages celebrating her leadership, vision and commitment to transforming COOU.
Among others, the scenic appearances and scintillating performances of the Vice Chancellor on drama titled Ụzụmma, where she played most fittingly the role of a Vice Chancellor and later an aged mother, formed the highpoints of the event.
More photos from the event:
