Tinubu fires UNN, UniAbuja Vice Chancellors, redeploys Pro-Chancellors
By Kunle Sanni
President Bola Tinubu has implemented significant leadership changes across several federal universities, effective immediately.
At the University of Abuja, now renamed Yakubu Gowon University, the entire governing council has been dissolved, and Vice-Chancellor Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi has been relieved of her duties. Senator Lanre Tejuoso, formerly the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has been appointed the new Pro-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University. He will be succeeded in Makurdi by Senator Joy Emordi, formerly the Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education.
Professor Lar Patricia Manko has been appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University for a six-month term. Notably, she will not be eligible to apply for the substantive Vice-Chancellor position when it becomes available.
In a related development, Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu has been removed from his position as Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), ahead of his tenure’s scheduled end on February 14.
Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam has been appointed as his successor for a six-month term, with the stipulation that he will not be eligible to apply for the permanent position.
According to a statement from Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesperson, the leadership changes at UNN also include the reassignment of General Ike Nwachukwu, who has been moved to serve as Pro-Chancellor at the University of Uyo. Engineer Olubunmi Kayode Ojo has been appointed as the new Pro-Chancellor of UNN.
Ojo previously held pro-chancellor positions at the Federal University of Lokoja and the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti.
Further appointments include Professor Zubairu Tajo Abdullahi as the new Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lokoja, succeeding Engineer Ojo. Senator Sani Stores has been named the Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, taking over from Senator Joy Emordi.
In addition, Barrister Olugbenga Kukoyi, a current council member at UNN, has been appointed the new Pro-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State.
President Tinubu emphasized that these leadership changes reflect his administration’s commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s higher education system through dynamic leadership and accountability. The restructuring aims to strengthen governance and promote academic excellence within the country’s tertiary education sector.
These appointments and reassignments are effective immediately.
