President Bola Tinubu has removed Prof. Aisha Maikudi as the Vice Chancellor of University of Abuja, also known as Yakubu Gowon University.
This was announced in a press statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, adding that his principal also dissolved the entire governing council of Yakubu Gowon University (UNIABUJA).
Senator Lanre Tejuoso has been appointed as the new Pro-Chancellor of the university, while Professor Lar Patricia Manko will serve as Acting Vice Chancellor for a six-month term.
She will not be eligible to apply for the substantive Vice Chancellor position when it becomes available.
Similar changes have been made at some other federal universities, including the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu has been removed as Acting Vice-Chancellor and replaced by Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam.
The university’s Pro-Chancellor, Gen. 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.
The statement reads: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced significant leadership changes at several federal universities, including the University of Abuja, now known as Yakubu Gowon University.
“These changes are effective immediately.
“At Yakubu Gowon University, President Tinubu dissolved the entire governing council and relieved Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi of her duties as Vice-Chancellor.
“Senator Lanre Tejuoso, currently Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has been appointed Pro-Chancellor of the Yakubu Gowon University. He will be succeeded in Makurdi by Senator Joy Emordi, now pro-chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education.
“To succeed Maikudi, President Tinubu appointed Professor Lar Patricia Manko as Acting Vice Chancellor at the Yakubu Gowon University for a six-month term.
“She will not be eligible to apply for the substantive Vice Chancellor position when it becomes available.
“In addition, President Tinubu has removed Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu from his position as Acting Vice-Chancellor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), before his tenure ends on February 14.
“Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam has been appointed as his successor for six months and will not be eligible to apply for the permanent position.
“The leadership changes at UNN extend to the role of Pro-Chancellor, with Gen. Ike Nwachukwu reassigned to Pro-Chancellor at the University of Uyo.
“President Tinubu appointed Engineer 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.
“Professor Zubairu Tajo Abdullahi, currently the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, has been appointed to succeed Ojo at the Federal University of Lokoja.
“Senator Sani Stores is the new Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, succeeding Senator Joy Emordi. Senator Stores is a Council Member at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
“Additionally, Barrister Olugbenga Kukoyi, a current Council Member at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has been appointed the new Pro-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State.
“All appointments and reassignment decisions are effective immediately.”
SaharaReporters previously reported that 43 professors – members of the University of Abuja – had written an open letter to the President Bola Tinubu, who is the visitor to the university, calling for his urgent intervention in the crisis in the school before the situation would get out of hand.
“They alleged that the selection process that led to Prof. Maikudi being appointed as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the school was flawed and plagued by irregularities.”
On January 29, SaharaReporters reported that that some members of the University of Abuja Senate staged a walkout protest during their regular meeting earlier that day.
SaharaReporters learned that trouble began when a professor raised a point of order after Vice Chancellor Prof. Aisha Maikudi’s opening remark, highlighting the need to add an important item to the meeting agenda for discussion.
While addressing concerns such as the unprovoked attack on Senate members on December 23, 2024, by vigilante group members and the questionable selection process that allowed Aisha Maikudi to succeed herself as Vice Chancellor, the professor was shouted down and his microphone was taken away before he could finish, an insider told SaharaReporters.
Due to the low attendance of Senate members, some of the senators walked out, arguing that the process that appointed Maikudi was flawed and violated the stipulated guidelines for appointing a Vice Chancellor. They asserted that she is illegitimate to preside over the meeting.
The source said: “The Senate of the University of Abuja met today upon notice of regular meeting which was disseminated three days ago to Senate members.
“After the opening remark by Aisha Maikudi, a professor on the floor of the Senate raised a point of order to draw the attention of the Senate to the need to include an important item on the agenda of the meeting for deliberation, namely, the callous attack on Senate members by men of vigilante group in December 2024.
“He also observed that even at that moment, there was an unusual presence of a large number of vigilantes around the Senate Chambers. This ugly development is an indication that there is tension in the University.
“This tension is not unconnected to the deep-seated disaffection of a good number of Senate members on the fraudulent selection process that paved the way for Aisha Maikudi to succeed herself as substantive Vice-Chancellor.
“The professor was shouted down and the microphone taken from him before he could conclude his point order.”
