In a sweeping move to revitalize Nigeria’s higher education system, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced significant leadership changes at several federal universities across the country, including a major rebranding of the University of Abuja, which will now be known as Yakubu Gowon University.
The changes, which take effect immediately, include a total overhaul of the governing body at the newly renamed Yakubu Gowon University.
The university’s governing council has been dissolved, and Professor Aisha Maikudi has been relieved of her duties as Vice-Chancellor.
In her place, President Tinubu has appointed Professor Lar Patricia Manko as Acting Vice-Chancellor for a six-month term.
However, the President clarified that Professor Manko will not be eligible to apply for the permanent position once the role becomes available.
In a further shake-up, Senator Lanre Tejuoso, who has served as Pro-Chancellor at the University of Agriculture in Makurdi, has been appointed as the new Pro-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University.
Senator Tejuoso’s move marks a reshuffling in leadership, as Senator Joy Emordi is now set to take over as the Pro-Chancellor at Alvan Ikoku University of Education, replacing Tejuoso at the Makurdi institution.
The leadership reshuffle extends to other prominent universities, including the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where President Tinubu has made key adjustments ahead of an impending leadership transition.
Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu, whose tenure as Acting Vice-Chancellor was due to expire on February 14, has been removed from his position.
In his stead, Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam has been appointed as the new Acting Vice-Chancellor at UNN for a six-month term. Like Manko, Ujam will not be eligible to apply for the permanent Vice-Chancellor position.
The changes at UNN also include a shift in Pro-Chancellor roles. General Ike Nwachukwu has been reassigned to the position of Pro-Chancellor at the University of Uyo, while Engineer Olubunmi Kayode Ojo, a seasoned leader in the higher education sector, will now take over as Pro-Chancellor of UNN.
Ojo previously held similar leadership roles at the Federal University of Lokoja and the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti.
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Further appointments include Professor Zubairu Tajo Abdullahi, the outgoing Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, who will now head the Federal University of Lokoja.
Senator Sani Stores has also been named the new Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, succeeding Senator Emordi.
In a final wave of changes, Barrister Olugbenga Kukoyi, a member of the governing council at UNN, has been appointed as the new Pro-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State.
These bold decisions reflect President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s tertiary education system through strategic leadership restructuring.
The President emphasised that these changes are intended to enhance governance, promote academic excellence, and ensure greater accountability within the country’s universities.
