President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, dissolved the entire governing council of the Yakubu Gowon University (formerly UniAbuja) and relieved Professor Aisha Maikudi of her role as its Vice-Chancellor with immediate effect.
“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, disclosed in a statement on Thursday.
“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 institution.
Senator Joy Emordi, who is now the pro-chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, will succeed him in Makurdi.
In addition, Tinubu has removed Professor Polycarp Chigbu from his post as Acting Vice-Chancellor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, before his tenure expires on February 14.
Professor Oguejiofu Ujam has been appointed as his six-month successor and will be ineligible to apply for the permanent seat.
The leadership changes at UNN have extended to the position of Pro-Chancellor, with Gen. Ike Nwachukwu moved to the University of Uyo.
Tinubu also named Olubunmi Ojo as the new Pro-Chancellor of UNN. Ojo formerly held the same position at both the Federal University of Lokoja and the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti.
Meanwhile, Professor Zubairu Abdullahi, the incumbent Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, has been appointed to succeed Ojo at the Federal University of Lokoja.
Tinubu also named Senator Sani Stores as the new Pro-Chancellor of the Alvan Ikoku University of Education, succeeding Senator Joy Emordi.
Stores is a council member at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN.
Additionally, Olugbenga Kukoyi, a current council member at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, 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.
Tinubu emphasised 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.
