President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced sweeping leadership changes across several federal universities, including renaming the University of Abuja to Yakubu Gowon University.
These changes take effect immediately.
At Yakubu Gowon University, President Tinubu dissolved the governing council and relieved Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi of her duties as Vice-Chancellor.
In her place, he appointed Professor Lar Patricia Manko as Acting Vice-Chancellor for a six-month term.
However, Manko will not be eligible to apply for the permanent position once it is open, according to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy.
Further appointments include Senator Lanre Tejuoso, currently the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, who has been reassigned as Pro-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University.
His position in Makurdi will now be filled by Senator Joy Emordi, who has also been named Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education.
At the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), President Tinubu removed Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu from his role as Acting Vice-Chancellor ahead of his tenure’s scheduled expiration on February 14.
He appointed Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam as the new Acting Vice-Chancellor for six months, with the same restriction of ineligibility for the permanent position.
The restructuring at UNN also affected its Pro-Chancellor role, with Gen. Ike Nwachukwu reassigned as Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo. Engineer Olubunmi Kayode Ojo, previously holding similar roles at the Federal University of Lokoja and the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti, has been appointed the new Pro-Chancellor of UNN.
Meanwhile, Professor Zubairu Tajo Abdullahi, the outgoing Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, will take over as Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lokoja.
Additionally, Senator Sani Stores has been appointed Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, replacing Senator Joy Emordi.
Barrister Olugbenga Kukoyi, a current Council Member at UNN, has also been named Pro-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.
All appointments and reassignments are effective immediately, as part of President Tinubu’s broader initiative to revamp Nigeria’s higher education sector.
The restructuring aims to strengthen governance, ensure academic excellence, and promote accountability across the nation’s tertiary institutions.
