President Bola Tinubu has dismissed the Vice-Chancellors of Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja) and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, along with dissolving the governing council of Yakubu Gowon University.
This was revealed in a statement signed on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, titled “President Tinubu Announces Leadership Overhaul at Federal Universities.”
Professor Aisha Maikudi was removed as Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University with immediate effect. She has been replaced by Professor Patricia Manko, who will serve as Acting Vice-Chancellor for six months. Onanuga noted that Manko will not be eligible to apply for the substantive Vice-Chancellor position when it becomes available.
Senator Lanre Tejuoso, the current Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has been appointed as the new Pro-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University. Senator Joy Emordi, who was the Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, will now take over from Tejuoso at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
In another development, Professor Polycarp Chigbu was removed from his position as Acting Vice-Chancellor of UNN before his tenure’s official end on February 14. He has been replaced by Professor Oguejiofu Ujam, who will also serve for six months and will not be eligible to apply for the permanent role.
Further changes at UNN include the appointment of Olubunmi Ojo as the new Pro-Chancellor. Ojo previously served as Pro-Chancellor at the Federal University of Lokoja and the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti. General Ike Nwachukwu, who was Pro-Chancellor at UNN, has been reassigned to the University of Uyo.
Additionally, Professor Zubairu Abdullahi, the former Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, will now serve as Pro-Chancellor at the Federal University of Lokoja. Senator Sani Stores, a Council Member at UNN, has been appointed the new Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, replacing Senator Joy Emordi.
Olugbenga Kukoyi, another Council Member at UNN, has been appointed as the new Pro-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State.
“All appointments and reassignment decisions are effective immediately,” the statement from the presidency confirmed.
President Tinubu stressed that these changes are part of his administration’s efforts to revitalise Nigeria’s higher education system through dynamic leadership and improved accountability.
“The restructuring aims to strengthen governance and academic excellence within Nigeria’s tertiary education sector,” Onanuga concluded.
