Tinubu Removes UniAbuja, UNN VCs, Names New Replacements

The entire governing council of Yakubu Gowon University (formerly UniAbuja) was dissolved by President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, and Professor Aisha Maikudi was immediately removed from her position as vice-chancellor.

“To succeed Maikudi, President Tinubu appointed Professor Patricia Manko as Acting Vice Chancellor at the Yakubu Gowon University for a six-month term,” Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed in a statement he signed on Thursday.

The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu announces leadership overhaul at Federal Universities.’

“She (Prof. Manko) will not be eligible to apply for the substantive Vice Chancellor position when it becomes available,” he added.

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.

In addition, Tinubu has relieved Professor Polycarp Chigbu from his position as Acting Vice-Chancellor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, before his tenure ends on February 14.

Professor Oguejiofu 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.

Tinubu also appointed Olubunmi 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.

Meanwhile, Professor Zubairu Abdullahi, currently the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, has been appointed to succeed Ojo at the Federal University of Lokoja.

Tinubu also appointed Senator Sani Stores as the new Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, succeeding Senator Joy Emordi.

Stores is a Council Member at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Additionally, 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,” the presidency said.

President Tinubu emphasized that these changes reflect his administration’s commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s higher education system through dynamic leadership and accountability.

“The restructuring aims to strengthen governance and academic excellence within Nigeria’s tertiary education sector,” Onanuga concluded.