President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has initiated significant leadership changes across several federal universities, including renaming the University of Abuja to Yakubu Gowon University. These changes are effective immediately.
At the newly renamed Yakubu Gowon University, President Tinubu dissolved the entire governing council and dismissed Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi as Vice-Chancellor. In her place, Professor Lar Patricia Manko has been appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor for a six-month term. A statement from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, clarified that Manko would not be eligible to apply for the permanent position when it becomes available.
Additionally, Senator Lanre Tejuoso, who is currently the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has been appointed Pro-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University. Senator Joy Emordi, now appointed Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, will succeed Tejuoso in Makurdi.
Further restructuring took place at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu was relieved of his duties as Acting Vice-Chancellor before his tenure was set to expire on February 14. Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam has been appointed the new Acting Vice-Chancellor for a six-month term, also with the restriction of ineligibility for the permanent position.
The Pro-Chancellor role at UNN was also reshuffled, with Gen. Ike Nwachukwu reassigned to the University of Uyo. Engineer Olubunmi Kayode Ojo has been appointed the new Pro-Chancellor of UNN, following his previous roles at the Federal Universities of Lokoja and Oye-Ekiti. Professor Zubairu Tajo Abdullahi, the current Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, will now take over from Ojo at the Federal University of Lokoja.
Senator Sani Stores has been appointed the new Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, replacing Senator Joy Emordi. Barrister Olugbenga Olugbenga Kukoyi, a current Council Member at UNN, will now serve as the new Pro-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State.
All appointments and reassignments are effective immediately. President Tinubu emphasized that these changes are part of his administration’s efforts to overhaul and strengthen Nigeria’s higher education system, focusing on governance, academic excellence, and accountability within the sector, as stated by Onanuga.
