Tinubu sacks UniAbuja VC after barely five weeks in office

President Bola Tinubu has removed the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, UniAbuja- now renamed Yakubu Gowon University, Aisha Maikudi, barely six weeks after her appointment.

Afinju FM
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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 as the substantive Vice-Chancellor, she had served as UniAbuja’s acting VC from July 5, 2024.

A statement issued today by the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, 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 the 42-year-old 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.

According to the statement, the current Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Lanre Tejuoso, has been appointed Pro-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University.

He will be succeeded in Makurdi by the pro-chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education Joy Emordi.

Additionally, President Tinubu has removed Polycarp Chigbu from his position as Acting Vice-Chancellor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, before his tenure ends on February 14.

Read Also: FG renames UniAbuja to Yakubu Gowon University

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.

Sani Stores is the new Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, succeeding 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.

The statement further 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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