JUST IN: Tinubu Sacks UniAbuja, UNN VCs, Make Fresh Appointments

JUST IN: Tinubu Sacks UniAbuja, UNN VCs, Make Fresh Appointments

President Bola Tinubu has initiated a major overhaul in the leadership of federal universities.

On Thursday, he dissolved the entire governing council of Yakubu Gowon University (previously known as UniAbuja) and terminated the appointment of Professor Aisha Maikudi as its Vice-Chancellor, effective immediately.

“To succeed Maikudi, President Tinubu appointed Professor Patricia Manko as Acting Vice Chancellor at the Yakubu Gowon University for a six-month term,” Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed in a statement he signed on Thursday.

The announcement regarding these leadership changes is titled ‘President Tinubu announces leadership overhaul at Federal Universities.’

“She (Prof. Manko) will not be eligible to apply for the substantive Vice Chancellor position when it becomes available,” he added.

Senator Lanre Tejuoso, Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture in Makurdi, has been appointed as the new Pro-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University.

He will be succeeded in Makurdi by Senator Joy Emordi, who is currently Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education.

Moreover, Tinubu has removed Professor Polycarp Chigbu from his role as Acting Vice-Chancellor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, before his tenure was set to conclude on February 14.

Professor Oguejiofu Ujam has been designated as his successor for a six-month term, though he is not eligible to apply for the permanent position.

Further changes at the University of Nigeria also include a shift in the Pro-Chancellor position, with Gen. Ike Nwachukwu taking on a new role as Pro-Chancellor at the University of Uyo.

In addition, Olubunmi Ojo has been appointed the new Pro-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, having previously held a similar position at the Federal University of Lokoja and the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti.

Finally, Professor Zubairu Abdullahi, who currently serves as Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, has been appointed to take over from Ojo at the Federal University of Lokoja.

Tinubu also appointed Senator Sani Stores as the new Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, succeeding Senator Joy Emordi. Stores is a Council Member at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Additionally, 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.

“All appointments and reassignment decisions are effective immediately,” the presidency said.

The President also emphasised that these changes reflect his administration’s commitment to revitalising Nigeria’s higher education system through dynamic leadership and accountability.

“The restructuring aims to strengthen governance and academic excellence within Nigeria’s tertiary education sector,” Onanuga concluded.