President Bola Tinubu has sacked Aisha Maikudi as Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, now Yakubu Gowon University, with immediate effect.
The announcement came just hours after Professor Maikudi presided over the institution’s matriculation ceremony, where over 7,000 new students were admitted into various academic programmes.
To replace her, the president appointed Professor Lar Patricia Manko as Acting Vice-Chancellor for a six-month tenure, specifying that she would not be eligible to apply for the substantive position when it becomes available.
President Tinubu has also relieved Professor Polycarp Chigbu of his position as Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), just eight days before the official end of his tenure. He has named Professor Oguejiofu Ujam as Chigbu’s successor.
Similar to Yakubu Gowon University, the newly appointed Acting Vice Chancellor at UNN will serve for six months and will not be eligible to apply for the permanent position.
A statement signed by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, also announced the dissolution of the entire governing council of UniAbuja, while the current Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Senator Lanre Tejuoso, has been appointed as the new UniAbuja Pro-Chancellor.
While Tejuoso is succeeded in Makurdi by the current Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Senator Joy Emordi, the Pro-Chancellor of UNN, General Ike Nwachukwu, has been reassigned to the University of Uyo in the same capacity.
Replacing him is Engineer Olubunmi Ojo, who previously served as Pro-Chancellor at both the Federal University of Lokoja and the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti.
The current pro-chancellor of the University of Uyo, Professor Zubairu Abdullahi, has been appointed to succeed Ojo at the Federal University of Lokoja, while Senator Sani Stores, a council member at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is the new pro-chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, succeeding Senator Emordi.
The president appointed a current council member at UNN, Barrister Olugbenga Kukoyi, as the new pro-chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State.
President Tinubu emphasised that the changes reflect his administration’s resolve to revitalise the nation’s tertiary education system through dynamic leadership and improved accountability.
According to him, the restructuring aims to foster better governance and strengthen academic excellence across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
“All appointments and reassignment decisions are effective immediately,” Onanuga noted.
