President Bola Tinubu has approved major leadership changes in several federal universities across Nigeria.
The restructuring, announced on Thursday, includes the dissolution of the governing council of Yakubu Gowon University (formerly known as the University of Abuja) and the removal of its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aisha Maikudi, with immediate effect.
In her place, Tinubu appointed Professor Patricia Manko as the Acting Vice-Chancellor for a six-month period. However, Manko will not be eligible to apply for the substantive Vice-Chancellor position when it becomes available. The announcement was made in a statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, titled ‘President Tinubu Announces Leadership Overhaul at Federal Universities.’
Additionally, the President appointed Senator Lanre Tejuoso, currently the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, as the new Pro-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University. To fill his previous position, Senator Joy Emordi, who was the Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, has now been reassigned to the University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
The leadership reshuffle also affected the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where Professor Polycarp Chigbu was removed as Acting Vice-Chancellor before his tenure was set to end on February 14. Professor Oguejiofu Ujam has been appointed to take over the role for the next six months, with the same condition that he will not be eligible to apply for the permanent position.
Other changes at UNN include the reassignment of General Ike Nwachukwu, who was previously the Pro-Chancellor, to a new role at the University of Uyo. Meanwhile, Olubunmi Ojo, formerly the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lokoja and the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti, has been named the new Pro-Chancellor of UNN.
In further changes, Professor Zubairu Abdullahi, who served as the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, has been appointed to replace Ojo at the Federal University of Lokoja. Similarly, Senator Sani Stores, a Council Member at UNN, will now serve as the Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, succeeding Senator Joy Emordi.
The restructuring also extends to Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, where Olugbenga Kukoyi, another Council Member at UNN, has been appointed as the new Pro-Chancellor.
“All appointments and reassignment decisions are effective immediately,” the presidency announced.
