Just as the renowned Chinese teacher and philosopher, Kong Qiu (commonly latinised as Confucius), once said: “They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom”, the Confucius Institute of the University of Lagos has changed leadership to ensure the continuous growth and prosperity of the Institute.
A symbolic ceremony for handing over the reigns of the Confucius Institute, UNILAG from Professor Chimdi Maduagwu to Professor Obi Iwuagwu was carried out at the Institute’s Board Room on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.
Encomiums pour in…
The ceremony was witnessed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), UNILAG, Professor Ayodele Atsenuwa; Chinese Director of Confucius Institute, UNILAG, Professor Zhao Hongling; members of staff of the Institute; family of the outgoing Nigeria Director, Professor Chimdi Maduagwu; and some other members of the University community.
Expressing the University’s pride in the work being done in the Confucius Institute and all the recorded achievements with the little resources available, Professor Ayodele Atsenuwa, disclosed that it was always joyous to see people who passed through the Confucius Institute in UNIILAG speak and use Chinese commendably.
She noted that it was part of the works of the outgoing Director, Professor Maduagwu, for which he is highly appreciated.
Similarly, she commended the management and staff of the Institute for maintaining a warm, family-like and welcoming ambience, and expressed optimism for the continuity of this practice.
Testifying to having worked with the incoming Director, Professor Obi Iwuagwu in the past and his capability to meet the demands of the Institute, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor assured him and other members of the Confucius Institute (CI), of UNILAG Management’s support in helping to take the Institute to greater heights.
In his remarks, the Chinese Director of the Institute, Professor Zhao Hongling, expressed gratitude to Professor Atsenuwa, for always supporting the Institute, adding that CI, UNILAG will reach its peak under her continued leadership and support. He shared his vision of CI, UNILAG becoming more attractive and useful such that it would be a tourist spot in UNILAG campus.
Professor Zhao expressed sanguinity that the Institute would have a stronger teaching team in the near future, which will open up room for accepting more students. He disclosed that the Institute aims to improve its teaching equipment and other facilities to make this vision a reality.
He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Professor Maduagwu, the outgoing Nigerian Director, CI, UNILAG, for the great job done in the Institute. Professor Zhao subsequently welcomed the incoming Nigerian Director, Professor Obi Iwuagwu, sharing his hope for a cooperative work during his stay in the UNILAG division of the Confucius Institute. He appreciated all staff of the Institute and encouraged everyone to continue to work as a family to build a vibrant CI, UNILAG.
In recognition of the stellar leadership of Professor Chimdi Maduagwu as the outgoing Nigerian Director of the Confucius Institute of the University of Lagos, academic and administrative staff of the institute, both Chinese and Nigerian descent, shared their fond experiences of working with Professor Maduagwu, saying in different touching expressions how they would miss him, and continue to receive him in the Institute as a family. The staff heartily welcomed the incoming Director, Professor Iwuagwu and expressed their readiness to work together towards the successful realisation of the Institute’s goals.
And the new Director speaks…
Professor Obi Iwuagwu appreciated the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for honouring the Institute with her esteemed presence. He extended his gratitude to his predecessor, Professor Maduagwu, for passing the baton of the Nigerian directorship of CI, UNILAG to him.
According to Professor Iwuagwu, he and Professor Maduagwu have known each other for a long time, making their friendship blossom into brotherhood. He revealed further that upon his appointment as the next Nigerian Director of the Institute, the outgoing Director was the one who brought him into the Confucius Institute, introduced him to everyone as the new Director and also gave him a comprehensive written and oral handover.
He specially recognised his predecessor for his ability to successfully see CI, UNILAG, through the COVID-19 pandemic as well as his many deeds for the advancement of the Institute, many for which the Institute has received awards.
While acknowledging that he had a firm foundation to begin the work for his tenure as the Nigerian Director of CI, UNILAG, Professor Iwuagwu prayed that the sacrifices of his predecessor, Professor Chimdi Maduagwu, for the Institute would not be in vain.
He called on the members of staff of the Institute for their support and cooperation during in his tenure. He acknowledged that the staff have been delivering amazing services thus far with the outgoing Director and sought that the same courtesy beaccorded to him.
Slideshow…
Members of the Institute displayed heart-warming slideshows they had prepared for both the outgoing and incoming Nigerian directors. The slideshow for the outgoing director was a walk down memory lane depicting the awards the Institute had received under Professor Maduagwu’s leadership; the advancement students of the Institute had experienced; the Chinese dances and cultural performances/displays choreographed and executed by the students of the Institutes among others.
Day of Awe for Outgoing Director…
In response to the warm speeches and accolades, Professor Chimdi Maduagwu, who disclosed that he was awed and overwhelmed, reminisced on the past years he had spent as the Nigerian Director of the Confucius Institute of the University of Lagos. He noted that he had a good experience at the Confucius Institute and had no enemies throughout his tenure.
He recalled some of the challenges with the drastic shortage of teaching staff that was experienced in the institute when he newly started his directorship assignment; how he and the staff on ground looked for ways to improve by studying Confucius Institutes in other climes (national and international).
In his quest to improve the CI, UNILAG, he and other CI directors, who were at a conference at the University of China formed an alumni association of directors to share ideas and come up with ways to improve their Institute. According to Professor Maduagwu, it was some of the discussions that birthed solutions for improving CI, UNILAG.
He disclosed that the target was to make it a model Confucius Institute, not just in Nigeria, or West Africa but in Africa. The view was seconded by the Vice-Chancellor at the time, Professor Rahamon A. Bello, FAEng and adopted by the next Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), Professor Folasade T, Ogunsola.
He averred that the Institute was able to increase its teaching sites, get twenty-three (23) schools on board, get more Chinese teachers and enrolment rose from about one hundred and twenty (120) to about eight hundred (800). The outgoing director revealed that the increase in enrolment called for more space, which the Vice-Chancellor at the time, Professor Ogundipe, helped with; however, in a quest for a lasting solution, the institute began steps in acquiring its own building for expansion, a project which he stated will now be inherited by the incoming director.
Ascribing his success in Office to God, and the support of his superiors and subordinates, Professor Chimdi Maduagwu revealed that under his watch, the Institute became number one (1) among its peers. He mentioned that the winning was not limited to the institute alone as he also won the October 1st Award of the Chinese Embassy twice; one in Lagos and another in Abuja. He stated with pride that at the Award ceremony held at Oriental Hotel, Lagos State, Nigeria, where he and Professor Ogundipe received awards for the Institute, the major performances and Chinese cultural displays e.g., dragon bowl dance, which was known to be difficult was perfectly performed by the Confucius Institute, University of Lagos that day, making the University and the Institute very popular in the comity of connoisseurs of Chinese culture.
He recalled how he and the former Chinese Director, Professor Wang Yongjing went around the university marketing the institute to garner more enrolment for Chinese studies, a move which helped the Institute make notable impact in addition to the wins it had recorded at events; bridge competitions; organisation of debates, seminars and symposia; and the institute’s notable establishment of the Institute of Nigeria China Development Studies, University of Lagos (INCDS-UNILAG).
Confirming the journey was not all rosy, Professor Maduagwu remarked that there were great plans of expanding the Institute’s experience centre to all faculties and establishing a research centre but several challenges, one of which was the COVID-19 pandemic, hindered the realisation of some of these plans.
Professor Maduagwu mentioned some on-going conversations for possible collaborations that the Institute had initiated and hoped the new leadership of the Confucius Institute, UNILAG will continue with them.
Assuring his successor that he is in good hands, Professor Maduagwu asserted that the Institute has been blessed with good personnel in both its administrative arm and dependable Nigerian and Chinese teachers. He noted also that Professor Zhao Hongling, the current Chinese Director of the Institute, is a wonderful man of extraordinary abilities, with whom he was sure, Professor Obi Iwugwu would be able to build the Institute to enviable heights.
Subsequently, in a symbolic fashion, Professor Chimdi Maduagwu handed over the keys to the Institute to Professor Obi Iwuagwu and thereafter transferred a sash carrying the official logos of the University of Lagos and Confucius Institute from himself to his successor Professor Iwuagwu, placing it around his neck. He stated: “I hand over to you the Authority of Office of the Nigerian Director, Confucius Institute, as authorised by the University of Lagos, here witnessed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Congratulations.”
Presentation of gifts was made to Professor Chimdi Maduagwu, the former Nigerian Director of the Confucius Institute of the University of Lagos. A group photograph session ensued to mark the end of the gathering.
