President Bola Tinubu has removed the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) now renamed Yakubu Gowon University, Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi, barely six weeks after her appointment.
The 42 years old Maikudi was appointed the seventh substantive Vice Chancellor of the university in the nation’s capital by its governing council at an extraordinary meeting on December 31, 2024.
The appointment, which took effect from January 1, 2025, was for a period of a non-renewable five years.
However, before she was appointed the substantive vice-chancellor, she had served as UniAbuja’s acting VC from July 5, 2024.
A statement issued on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), which announced “significant leadership changes” at several federal universities, said to succeed Maikudi, President Tinubu appointed Professor Lar Patricia Manko as Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution.
The statement barred her from applying for the substantive Vice Chancellor position when it becomes available.
The Presidency also informed that President Tinubu has dissolved the entire governing council of the university.
It said Senator Lanre Tejuoso, currently Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has been appointed Pro-Chancellor of the Yakubu Gowon University.
He will be succeeded in Makurdi by Senator Joy Emordi, now pro-chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education.
In addition, President Tinubu has removed Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu from his position as Acting Vice-Chancellor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), before his tenure ends on February 14.
Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam has been appointed as his successor for six months and will not be eligible to apply for the permanent position.
The leadership changes at UNN extend to the role of Pro-Chancellor, with Gen. Ike Nwachukwu reassigned to Pro-Chancellor at the University of Uyo. President Tinubu appointed Engineer Olubunmi Kayode Ojo as the new Pro-Chancellor of UNN. Previously, Ojo held the same position at the Federal University of Lokoja and the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti.
Professor Zubairu Tajo Abdullahi, currently the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, has been appointed to succeed Ojo at the Federal University of Lokoja.
Senator Sani Stores is the new Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, succeeding Senator Joy Emordi. Senator Stores is a Council Member at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Additionally, Barrister Olugbenga Kukoyi, a current Council Member at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has been appointed the new Pro-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State.
According to the statement, all appointments and reassignment decisions are effective immediately.
It said President Tinubu emphasised that these changes reflect his administration’s commitment to revitalising Nigeria’s higher education system through dynamic leadership and accountability.
It explained that the restructuring aims to strengthen governance and academic excellence within Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
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