By Dr. Chidipeters Okorie
October 28, 2025
Your Eminence,
It is on record that Msgr. Prof. John Bosco Akam, inspired by a profound Catholic vision, founded Tansian University to serve the people of Anambra State and beyond—rooted firmly in the principles of faith, academic excellence, and selfless service to humanity.
During his lifetime, he devoted his energy and intellect to ensuring that the institution remained under proper stewardship—entrusted to the religious community he founded, the Missionary Servants of the Church (also known as the Missionary Sons of Tansi), and to a select group of dedicated collaborators who shared his commitment to moral education and youth advancement.
Msgr. Akam’s aspiration was clear: to create a university that would stand as a beacon of Catholic intellectual culture—providing a moral compass for the younger generation while contributing to national development through sound scholarship and service.
Among those who stood with him in the University’s formative years were Dr. Peter Ejikeme (the sole surviving member of the Missionary Servants of the Church, the legally recognized proprietor of Tansian University), Chief Sam Obaji, Dr. Andy Uba, Sir Vincent Ofolobe, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, and Dr. Eloka Menakaya. These men should, by every moral and administrative standard, be part of any present or future effort to reclaim and stabilize the University’s founding vision.
A Legacy Under Threat
Since the passing of Msgr. Akam in 2021, Tansian University has been engulfed in crisis—legal disputes, financial distress, and a regrettable struggle for control. What was once a citadel of learning grounded in truth, faith, and diligence now faces disintegration. Unless moral authority and clarity of purpose are swiftly restored, the vision for which Msgr. Akam laboured may be lost.
Reports from within and outside the University reveal that a Catholic cleric and lawyer, Rev. Fr. Edwin Obiora, has positioned himself as a self-appointed authority within the institution, making claims and decisions inconsistent with the governance structure envisaged by the founder.
Fr. Obiora has publicly claimed that both the Diocese of Ekwulobia and Your Eminence personally endorse his leadership and that the Church now owns and directs Tansian University. These claims are false and have created confusion and mistrust among staff, students, benefactors, and the public.
In several correspondences, Fr. Obiora has described you as the “Shepherd Bishop” and “Visitor” of the University, implying that it is under your control—contradicting your stated position that the Church neither owns nor administers Tansian University.
This misrepresentation, mendacium contra caritatem et veritatem—a falsehood against both charity and truth—has sown discord, eroded confidence, and distorted the reality of the University’s ownership and mission.
Violation of the Founder’s Will
It is equally disturbing that Fr. Obiora has obstructed the executors of Msgr. Akam’s Last Will, a grave act that undermines justice and the founder’s legacy. The executors must be allowed to carry out their duties without interference or intimidation.
Your Eminence, Msgr. Akam held you in the highest regard. In the years when your episcopal appointment faced challenges, he stood by you—spiritually, morally, and materially. That bond of respect and faith between two priests is a matter of public record. Those of us who witnessed his labour now appeal to you to defend his dream from forces that seek to distort it.
Financial and Administrative Concerns
Reports indicate that Fr. Obiora has assumed unilateral control of the University’s finances—dispensing funds, awarding contracts, and conferring upon himself multiple titles, including Pro-Chancellor, Chancellor, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees—without legal or canonical mandate.
Such concentration of power violates the founder’s statutes, undermines good governance, and exposes the University to serious financial and reputational risks.
Additionally, the ongoing legal dispute between the University and Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka over its early land and facilities has drained its resources. Despite multiple court rulings in Chief Ezeonwuka’s favour, Fr. Obiora continues to litigate, worsening the University’s financial woes.
In 2023, the Oba take-off campus was sealed by court order following debt defaults—a development that disrupted academic activities and brought embarrassment upon the Catholic educational community.
The Need for Urgent Intervention
The cumulative effect of these crises has been the erosion of trust, demoralization of staff, and declining student enrollment. The University’s reputation and public confidence are in jeopardy.
Your Eminence, silence may be misinterpreted as acquiescence. A firm, public statement from you will dispel falsehoods, restore moral order, and reaffirm the Church’s commitment to truth and justice.
You occupy a position of exceptional moral authority. In that capacity, we appeal to you to intervene decisively to halt the deterioration of this great institution.
Path to Restoration
To rebuild the institution, it is essential to involve the University’s founding stakeholders—Dr. Peter Ejikeme, Chief Sam Obaji, Dr. Andy Uba, Sir Vincent Ofolobe, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, and Dr. Eloka Menakaya—in a consultative process aimed at restoring order and credibility.
An independent committee of trusted clergy, legal experts, and founding members should be constituted to review all administrative and financial decisions made since Msgr. Akam’s passing.
This review must include:
- A forensic audit of the University’s accounts,
- Verification of its current registration documents, and
- Investigation into any unauthorized restructuring that may have diverted control from the original proprietors.
Transparency is the only path to restoring legitimacy.
Engaging the National Universities Commission (NUC) is equally critical to ensure compliance with academic and governance standards, prevent de-accreditation, and safeguard the interests of students and staff.
Conclusion
Your Eminence, the faithful, the academic community, and society at large look to you for moral clarity and courage. A clear pronouncement from you on the University’s status will correct misconceptions and reaffirm the Church’s role as a guardian of truth.
Memoria justi cum laudibus—the memory of the just is blessed.
The legacy of Msgr. John Bosco Akam must not be allowed to perish through ambition or manipulation. His mission was not merely about buildings or licenses—it was about shaping conscience through faith-rooted education.
To defend that mission is to defend the integrity of the Church’s witness in Nigeria. History will judge how this moment is handled—whether silence permits decay or moral courage restores light and order.
May the Holy Spirit guide you with wisdom and fortitude as you consider this appeal. May you act not only as a bishop of the Church but as a guardian of conscience, ensuring that truth and justice prevail.
Respectfully,
Dr. Chidipeters Okorie
Former Public Relations Officer (PRO), Tansian University
Personal Assistant (Special Duties) to Very Rev. Msgr. Prof. John Bosco Akam, Founder/Chancellor/Chairman, Board of Trustees, Tansian University, Umunya, Anambra State.
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