Major leadership changes at several federal universities, including the University of Abuja, which has been renamed Yakubu Gowon University, have been announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
These changes take effect immediately. At the newly renamed Yakubu Gowon University, President Tinubu dismissed Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi from her position as Vice-Chancellor and named Professor Lar Patricia Manko to fill her position as Acting Vice-Chancellor for a six-month term.
Manko will not be able to apply for the permanent position when it becomes open, according to a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, Information & Strategy.
Yakubu Gowon University’s pro-chancellor is Senator Lanre Tejuoso, who is now the pro-chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
Senator Joy Emordi, who was recently named Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, will succeed him in Makurdi.
At the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), additional leadership changes occurred when President Tinubu dismissed Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu from his role as Acting Vice-Chancellor on February 14, just before his term ended.
With the same restriction of not being eligible for the permanent position, Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam has been appointed as the new Acting Vice-Chancellor at UNN for a period of six months.
Gen. Ike Nwachukwu was transferred to the position of Pro-Chancellor at the University of Uyo as part of the UNN reorganisation. After serving in comparable roles at the Federal Universities of Lokoja and Oye-Ekiti, engineer Olubunmi Kayode Ojo was named the new Pro-Chancellor of UNN.
Engr Kayode Ojo will now be replaced at the Federal University of Lokoja by Professor Zubairu Tajo Abdullahi, who is currently the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo.
Alvan Ikoku University of Education has named Senator Sani Stores as its next pro-chancellor, succeeding Senator Joy Emordi.
Olugbenga, Barrister Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, has named Olugbenga Kukoyi, a current UNN Council Member, as its new pro-chancellor.
President Tinubu has emphasised that these changes are a part of his administration’s larger initiative to revitalise Nigeria’s higher education sector, and all appointments and reassignment decisions take effect immediately.
According to Onanuga, the reform aims to improve accountability, guarantee academic excellence, and increase governance throughout the country’s tertiary education system.