A viral video showing the Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, saluting Governor Chukwuma Soludo has stirred intense debate across social media, with many users questioning why a serving state commissioner appeared to perform a formal police salute.
The controversy followed reports suggesting that Prof. Chuma-Udeh was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police, sparking speculation over her status within the Nigeria Police Force and whether her salute was appropriate or indicative of a conflict of roles.
However, checks have revealed that Prof. Chuma-Udeh is a Supernumerary Police (SPY) officer, a recognised category within the Nigeria Police Force. SPY officers are specially trained for designated security or honorary duties and may legally hold ranks and exercise limited police authority, though they are not part of the regular police recruitment structure.
As of January 2026, the commissioner holds the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (Supernumerary) while simultaneously serving as Anambra State’s Commissioner for Education under Governor Soludo. Her salute, therefore, aligns with her police status and rank — contrary to online claims alleging irregular promotion or role conflict.
Beyond policing, Prof. Chuma-Udeh is a highly respected academic and literary figure. She holds a PhD in Comparative Literature, is a Professor of English, and has served in multiple leadership capacities including Head of Department, Associate Dean, Dean of Arts, Coordinator-General of English Studies, and chair of international academic conferences.
She also contributes actively to global scholarship, with editorial affiliations such as Sentinel Literary Quarterly (UK) and reviewer roles for top international journals including the PMLA (Modern Language Association Journal).
Appointed Commissioner for Education on April 11, 2022, Prof. Chuma-Udeh has since led various reforms and engagements with education stakeholders, promoting improved standards, discipline, and value-based education across Anambra schools. In 2023, she notably urged teachers to prioritise ethics, moral upbringing, and character development alongside academic excellence.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Port Harcourt, and both Master’s and Doctoral degrees from Nnamdi Azikiwe University. She is widely recognised as a novelist, poet, orator, and advocate for women and children.
The clarification confirms that her police rank does not conflict with her duties as commissioner, as her appointment in the Nigeria Police Force remains strictly supernumerary in nature.
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