Tinubu Sacks UniAbuja, UNN VCs and Appoints Replacements

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has implemented significant leadership changes across multiple federal universities, including renaming the University of Abuja to Yakubu Gowon University.

These decisions take effect immediately.

As part of these changes, the president dissolved the institution’s governing council and removed Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi from her role as Vice-Chancellor.

President Tinubu has appointed Professor Lar Patricia Manko as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University for a six-month term. According to a statement from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Manko will not be eligible to apply for the permanent role once the position is open.

Additionally, Senator Lanre Tejuoso, currently the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has been named Pro-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University. He will be replaced in Makurdi by Senator Joy Emordi, who has now been appointed Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education.

At the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), President Tinubu has also removed Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu from his position as Acting Vice-Chancellor before the official end of his tenure on February 14.

Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam has been appointed as the new Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) for a six-month term, with the condition that he will not be eligible for the permanent role.

As part of the restructuring at UNN, General Ike Nwachukwu has been reassigned as Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, while Engineer Olubunmi Kayode Ojo, who previously held similar positions at the Federal University of Lokoja and the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti, has been named the new Pro-Chancellor of UNN.

Professor Zubairu Tajo Abdullahi, previously Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, will now succeed Ojo at the Federal University of Lokoja.

Meanwhile, Senator Sani Stores has been appointed as Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, replacing Senator Joy Emordi. Additionally, Barrister Olugbenga Olugbenga Kukoyi, a current Council Member at UNN, has been named the new Pro-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.

These appointments and reassignments take effect immediately. According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, President Tinubu’s administration aims to revitalize Nigeria’s higher education sector by strengthening governance, ensuring academic excellence, and promoting accountability.