On Thursday, President Bola Tinubu announced the dissolution of the entire governing council of Yakubu Gowon University (formerly UniAbuja) and the immediate dismissal of Professor Aisha Maikudi as Vice-Chancellor.
To replace her, President Tinubu appointed Professor Patricia Manko as Acting Vice-Chancellor for a six-month term. Manko will not be eligible to apply for the permanent Vice-Chancellor position when it becomes available, according to a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The statement, titled ‘President Tinubu announces leadership overhaul at Federal Universities,’ also mentioned that Senator Lanre Tejuoso, currently Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, would take over as Pro-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University.
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Senator Joy Emordi will succeed Tejuoso in Makurdi and take up the role of Pro-Chancellor at Alvan Ikoku University of Education.
In a further shake-up, Tinubu relieved Professor Polycarp Chigbu of his role as Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, before his term was set to conclude on February 14.
Professor Oguejiofu Ujam has been appointed to succeed him as Acting Vice-Chancellor for six months, with Ujam also ineligible for the permanent position.
Other changes include the reassignment of Gen. Ike Nwachukwu to Pro-Chancellor at the University of Uyo and the appointment of Olubunmi Ojo as the new Pro-Chancellor of UNN. Ojo previously held this role at both the Federal University of Lokoja and the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti. Professor Zubairu Abdullahi will succeed Ojo as Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lokoja.
Senator Sani Stores was named the new Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, replacing Senator Joy Emordi, and Olugbenga Kukoyi was appointed Pro-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State.
All of these appointments and reassignment decisions are effective immediately.
President Tinubu stated that these changes are part of his administration’s ongoing efforts to enhance Nigeria’s higher education system through strong leadership and accountability, aiming to improve governance and academic standards within the nation’s universities.
