Commissioning of the Centre for DNA Forensics and Criminal Investigations at Godfrey Okoye University on 24 June 2026: VICE CHANCELLOR’S SPEECH
Protocol
On 13 October 2022, a young, handsome, and smart-looking man mounted the podium of the Peter Mbah Law Auditorium here at Godfrey Okoye University to deliver his manifesto for the 2023 general elections. The hall was filled to capacity with people from all walks of life. Looking left and right, with an unmistakable yet unspoken language of profound self-confidence and complete mastery of his subject matter, Dr. Peter Mbah opened his golden box of plans, strategies, and promises designed to make the dreams of Ndi Enugu a reality if elected. It was a litany of well-articulated ideas wrapped in incandescently beautiful language. One point that no one in that hall could have missed was his emphasis—sounding almost like a poetic refrain—on dealing a fatal blow to the Beowulfian, Grendel-like forces of insecurity in Enugu State. Of course, the sceptics and pessimists grinned, doubting what sounded to them like a tortoise trying to win a race against Jamaica’s Usain Bolt.
The first decisive blow to insecurity and criminality was delivered against the obnoxious sit-at-home order, which had left Ndi Enugu cowering with their heads in the sand—much like Chinua Achebe’s “mute back-cloth of waiting creepers”—as hoodlums turned Mondays into a celebration of horrendous criminality and moral putrefaction. Little did we know that this was just the beginning of the Governor’s War Against Crime (WAC) in Enugu.
In a twinkle of an eye, white vehicles equipped with eagle-eyed cameras began springing up across Enugu State like mushrooms. As the Governor explained, “If you look at our DRS vehicles, they all have AI-embedded cameras. This means that whether the policemen are driving or stationary, they know what is happening within a two-to-three-metre radius because they have monitors in the vehicle. Our DRS men are armed with body cameras, and we are also viewing what they are doing to monitor their performance. That is why those on night duty are also being monitored to ensure they do the right thing at all times.” In addition, in every nook and cranny of Enugu State, surveillance cameras flashing intermittent red lights arrived with a clear message: Big Brother is watching you.
As people wondered about the ultimate destination of the plethora of information streaming from these countless cameras, the Governor stunned Nigerians and the world by establishing the famous Enugu State Command Centre, strategically positioned facing the Lion Building.
Like the perfect icing on a cake, the Governor also procured drones to hunt kidnappers and criminals out of every crevice, hole, tunnel, and thicket in the forested spaces of Enugu. These drones, possessing night vision like owls, have left hoodlums scampering like hens sighting a hovering hawk. As Tunde Olusunle wrote on 2 June 2026:
“Within his first two years in office, Mbah had established a state-of-the-art security and surveillance hub in Government House, Enugu, which is the envy of many small African countries. It deploys an integrated network of AI-powered CCTV cameras across the state to monitor security infractions in real-time and coordinate rapid responses. The coverage of the equipment, which includes high-powered drones, indeed oversees neighbouring states to facilitate information sharing in crime prevention. Mbah’s decision to domicile the digitised complex in Government House enables him to play the role of a hands-on Chief Security Officer (CSO) of his state, who can walk down from his office, if need be, to avail himself of goings-on in his state relative to the welfare of his constituents and commuters through the boundaries of his state. The centre, which is integrated with the monitoring systems of various security services operating in the state, can be accessed by dedicated emergency hotlines… While the wholesale elimination of crime is impossible anywhere in the world, Governor Mbah has ensured, by his uncommon vision and willpower, that Enugu State does not feature at the top of terrorised states in the country.”
Ladies and gentlemen, today our Governor has taken the War Against Crime (WAC) to the highest level of modern warfare by partnering with the DNA Learning Centre Nigeria at Godfrey Okoye University to establish the Centre for DNA Forensics and Criminal Investigations.
With the establishment of this centre, Enugu State, under the visionary leadership of Governor Peter Mbah, has eased the work of security officers by deploying empirical science rather than conjecture, and irrefutable arguments rooted in reason rather than the illogicalities of mythical explanations in criminal investigations and the delivery of justice.
The lighter—or perhaps more profound—side of this narrative is that, once fully approved by the relevant authorities, this centre will also allow individuals to irrefutably establish paternity or maternity, settling family controversies conclusively.
Beyond DNA forensics and criminal investigations, this centre and its accompanying “Science City” will provide global scholars and students with opportunities to collaborate on research regarding forensics and the DNA sequencing of plants, animals, and microbes. This will push the boundaries of human knowledge, fight diseases, and unlock the medicinal potentials of tropical flora and fauna.
It is deeply gladdening that 98% of the scientists and staff who will be working in this centre (subject to final approvals) are young Nigerian scholars under the age of 40. These individuals have resisted the temptation of the japa syndrome, choosing instead to find fulfillment and meaning in their work right here, determined to contribute to the growth of Enugu State and their beloved nation. Given the exceptional quality of our personnel and the sound ethical environment of this facility, I assure everyone here that there will be no room for mediocrity or unethical behaviour. The centre and all its partners are firmly committed to the highest ethical standards in research, data analysis, and reporting.
What this centre offers Nigeria, and indeed Africa, is a golden opportunity to take the lead in forensic research on tropical ecosystems while simplifying criminal investigations. Because forensic analysis can now be conducted locally without exporting samples outside the continent, we can finally take full ownership of our scientific discoveries. Furthermore, the Centre for DNA Forensics and Criminal Investigations joins a long list of legacy projects spearheaded by Governor Peter Mbah, who has vowed to make our tomorrow palpable, desirable, and incredibly beautiful here and now.
Godfrey Okoye University, which has opened its time-tested arms to host this facility, is proud to welcome all authorized security personnel, students, scholars, tourists, and visitors who wish to experience how environmental beauty can walk shoulder-to-shoulder with hardcore science. With its two beautiful lakes and expansive green spaces, Godfrey Okoye University has become a sanctuary for academic excellence, offering a serene environment that is uniquely beneficial for unhindered intellectual pursuits and a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here today to witness this epoch-making development in the history of DNA forensics and criminal investigations in our state and country. I extend special thanks to the National Universities Commission (NUC) for its continuous support of private universities, encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship, and the strengthening of our national academic landscape. I am also profoundly grateful to the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS, and all regulatory agencies responsible for the necessary approvals, for recognizing the vital need for unity of purpose in our collective determination to work assiduously for peace and justice.
Thank you, and God bless you all.
Rev. Fr. Prof. Dr. Christian Anieke
Founding Vice Chancellor
