By Capital Watch Media
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced sweeping leadership changes across several federal universities, including the renaming of the University of Abuja to Yakubu Gowon University.
The changes, which take immediate effect, include the dissolution of the governing council at Yakubu Gowon University and the removal of Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi as Vice-Chancellor. In her place, President Tinubu has appointed Professor Lar Patricia Manko as Acting Vice-Chancellor for a six-month term. However, Manko will not be eligible to apply for the substantive Vice-Chancellor position.
Senator Lanre Tejuoso, previously Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has been named Pro-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University. His former position will now be occupied by Senator Joy Emordi, who was Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education.
Similarly, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) will see a leadership shake-up. President Tinubu has removed Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu as Acting Vice-Chancellor before the end of his tenure on February 14. He will be replaced by Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam, who will also serve for six months without eligibility to apply for the permanent role.
The changes at UNN extend to its governing council, with General Ike Nwachukwu reassigned as Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo. Engineer Olubunmi Kayode Ojo, formerly the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal Universities of Lokoja and Oye-Ekiti, has been appointed the new Pro-Chancellor of UNN.
Professor Zubairu Tajo Abdullahi, previously Pro-Chancellor at the University of Uyo, will now assume the role at the Federal University of Lokoja. Meanwhile, Senator Sani Stores, a Council Member at UNN, has been appointed Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, succeeding Senator Joy Emordi.
Further, Barrister Olugbenga Kukoyi, another Council Member at UNN, has been named the new Pro-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State.
President Tinubu emphasised that the restructuring aligns with his administration’s commitment to enhancing governance, accountability, and academic excellence in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
The appointments and reassignment decisions take immediate effect.
