Tinubu removes Aisha Maikudi as UniAbuja VC, dissolves governing council

President Bola Tinubu has removed Aisha Maikudi as the vice-chancellor of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja).

In a statement on Thursday, Bayo Onanuga, a special adviser to the president on information and strategy, announced significant leadership changes affecting some federal universities.

Among the institutions affected is UniAbuja, which was earlier renamed the Yakubu Gowon University.

The leadership shakeup, at UniAbuja, saw the dissolution of a governing council whose legitimacy has been an issue of controversy.

In December 2024, a governing council, headed by the retired air vice-marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita, approved the appointment of Aisha Maikudu as the UniAbuja VC in a contentious selection process that attracted heated criticism from stakeholders in academia.

Maikudi’s appointment as VC took effect on January 1, 2025, and was to subsist for a nonrenewable tenure of five years.

Prior, she served as UniAbuja’s acting VC from July 5, 2024.

Maikudi’s uptake of the VC office came after a months-long controversy surrounding her eligibility and the selection process.

On December 24, a group of professors reportedly submitted a protest letter to the education ministry to seek the dissolution of UniAbuja’s governing council.

The professors claimed the chairman rejected over 87 applications and invited three candidates to favour a preferred candidate.

They claimed the council itself was improperly constituted, with internal members handpicked by the immediate past VC.

According to the petition, key criteria for the VC position, such as a minimum of ten years of professorial experience, were disregarded in the advertisement for the post the VC published in newspapers in August 2024.

This, they alleged, propped up the then-acting VC who had just over two years of experience as a professor.

OTHER AFFECTED VARSITIES

Among other institutions affected by the leadership shakeup is the University of Agriculture in Makurdi, Benue state.

Lanre Tejuoso, currently the pro-chancellor there, has been appointed the pro-chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University (UniAbuja).

Joy Emordi, now pro-chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, is to take Tejuoso’s in Makurdi.

To replace Maikudi at Yakubu Gowon University is Lar Patricia Manko, who will be the acting VC for a six-month term.

Manko will not be eligible to apply for the substantive VC position when it becomes available.

Tinubu has also removed Polycarp Emeka Chigbu whose tenure as the acting VC at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) is to expire on February 14.

Oguejiofu Ujam has been appointed as Chigbu’s successor for six months and will not be eligible to apply for the permanent position.

At UNN, the leadership changes extend to the role of pro-chancellor, Ike Nwachukwu reassigned to pro-chancellor at the University of Uyo.

Tinubu appointed Olubunmi Kayode Ojo as the new pro-chancellor of UNN.

Previously, Ojo held the same position at the Federal University of Lokoja and the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti.

Zubairu Tajo Abdullahi, currently the pro-chancellor of the University of Uyo, has been appointed to succeed Ojo at the Federal University of Lokoja.

Also, Sani Stores is the new pro-chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, succeeding Joy Emordi.

Stores is a council member at the UNN.

Olugbenga Kukoyi, a current council member at the UNN, has been appointed the new pro-chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra state.

These appointments, which are to take effect immediately,

Tinubu said the appointments are aimed at revitalising the higher education system through dynamic leadership and accountability.