Governor Soludo Appoints Bishop Kukah As COOU Chancellor

The governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has appointed Bishop Matthew Kukah as the Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU).

The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime. According to the statement, Kukah’s selection is expected to strengthen the university’s global connections, promote ethical leadership, and support the development of well-rounded graduates.

Aburime described Kukah as a respected Nigerian intellectual and cleric whose work bridges academic scholarship with the pursuit of social justice.

“Kukah is an eminent Nigerian intellectual and cleric whose contributions integrate academic scholarship with the pursuit of social justice in Nigeria,” the statement read.

The cleric has an extensive academic background, having studied at institutions such as St. Augustine Major Seminary, University of Ibadan, Pontifical Urban University, University of Bradford, and SOAS University of London, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1990. He has also undertaken studies at University of Oxford and Harvard University.

Beyond academia, Bishop Kukah is a prolific author and the founder of The Kukah Centre, an institution focused on research-driven advocacy for interfaith harmony and policy reform.

The state government noted that Kukah’s appointment signalled a strong commitment to academic excellence, ethical governance, and international collaboration at the State government-owned university.