President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made sweeping leadership changes at several federal universities, including the University of Abuja (now Yakubu Gowon University) and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). The changes, which are effective immediately, aimed to revitalize governance and academic standards in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
At Yakubu Gowon University, President Tinubu dissolved the entire governing council and removed Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi from her position as Vice-Chancellor. In her place, Professor Lar Patricia Manko has been appointed as Acting Vice-Chancellor for a six-month term, with the stipulation that she will not be eligible to apply for the permanent role when it becomes available.
Senator Lanre Tejuoso, the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has been reassigned as the Pro-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University. Senator Joy Emordi, formerly the Pro-Chancellor at Alvan Ikoku University of Education, has been appointed as Tejuoso’s successor at Makurdi.
In a related move, Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu was removed from his role as Acting Vice-Chancellor at UNN before the completion of his tenure. He is succeeded by Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam, who will serve as Acting Vice-Chancellor for six months, with similar restrictions regarding the permanent position.
The leadership overhaul at UNN also extended to the Pro-Chancellor position. General Ike Nwachukwu has been reassigned to the University of Uyo, and Engineer Olubunmi Kayode Ojo has been appointed as the new Pro-Chancellor of UNN. Ojo previously held the same position at the Federal University of Lokoja and Federal University of Oye-Ekiti.
Other significant appointments included Professor Zubairu Tajo Abdullahi, who will succeed Ojo as the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lokoja, and Senator Sani Stores, the new Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education.
Barrister Olugbenga Kukoyi, a Council Member at UNN, has been appointed the Pro-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, replacing the outgoing Pro-Chancellor.
These leadership changes are part of President Tinubu’s broader effort to strengthen governance and promote academic excellence within Nigeria’s higher education institutions. The restructuring is intended to inject fresh leadership into the system, enhance accountability, and ultimately improve the quality of education in the country.
