President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has removed Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi from her position as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, recently renamed Yakubu Gowon University. Additionally, he has dissolved the university’s governing council.
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The decision follows multiple petitions and concerns regarding Maikudi’s appointment. Several professors within the institution argued that she was unqualified for the role and allegedly received unfair advantage from the governing council, which was chaired by Air Vice-Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita (Rtd). Maikudi’s appointment was originally announced on December 31, 2024.
To replace her, President Tinubu has appointed Professor Lar Patricia Manko as Acting Vice-Chancellor for a six-month term. However, she will not be eligible to apply for the permanent role. Additionally, Senator Lanre Tejuoso, currently the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has been appointed as the new Pro-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University.
In a similar move, President Tinubu has ordered the immediate removal of Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu from his position as Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). His tenure was set to end on February 14, but the president has opted for an earlier dismissal.
To fill the vacancy, Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam has been appointed as the new Acting Vice-Chancellor for a six-month term. Like Manko, he will not be eligible to apply for the substantive position.
This shake-up underscores the administration’s commitment to transparency and merit-based leadership in Nigeria’s higher education sector.
