Ex-Anambra Lawmaker Umeoduagu Dies at 44

The Acting Vice-Chancellor of Tansian University, Anambra State, Prof Nnamdi Dike Umeoduagu, has died at the age of 44.

Umeoduagu, a professor of Microbiology and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the university, reportedly died in the early hours of Friday.

He was also a former member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, where he represented Aguata 1 Constituency.

University clarifies Umeoduagu’s tenure

The university has clarified reports suggesting that Umeoduagu served as acting vice-chancellor for only two days before his death.

In a statement, the Registrar of Tansian University, Rev. De Nekent Anthony Uke, said Umeoduagu had been formally authorised to act as vice-chancellor before the recent transition.

“The Management of Tansian University has noted with concern various reports circulating in the media suggesting that Prof. Umeoduagu served as Acting Vice-Chancellor for only two days prior to his death.

“This is not an accurate representation of the facts. Prof. Umeoduagu had been formally authorised to act in the office of the Vice-Chancellor well before the recent transition, following the commencement of the medical absence of the substantive Vice-Chancellor,” Uke said.

He said Umeoduagu served in an acting capacity for approximately two months, from when the substantive vice-chancellor proceeded on medical leave until the expiration of the substantive vice-chancellor’s tenure on September 30, 2026.

Uke added that Umeoduagu continued in the role until his death.

“His assumption of office was therefore not a sudden development of merely two days. It formed part of an established administrative arrangement that had been formally communicated to public and regulatory bodies and authorised in accordance with the University’s governance processes,” he said.

Tansian University mourns professor

The university described Umeoduagu as a distinguished academic, legislator, administrator, scholar and committed servant of the institution.

Uke said his contributions to higher education extended beyond the immediate interests of Tansian University.

He described the professor’s death as a major loss to the university community, his family, colleagues, students and the wider academic community in Nigeria.

The institution expressed condolences to Umeoduagu’s immediate family, relatives, friends, colleagues, students, associates and others who knew and worked with him.

The circumstances surrounding his death were not disclosed in the statement.