Tinubu sacks UNIABUJA Vice Chancellor, Aisha Makurdi

Pesident Bola Tinubu has removed Professor Aisha Maikudi as Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, now known as Yakubu Gowon University.

The announcement was made in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, who also revealed that Tinubu had dissolved the university’s governing council.

Senator Lanre Tejuoso has been appointed as the new Pro-Chancellor, while Professor Lar Patricia Manko will serve as Acting Vice Chancellor for six months. However, she will not be eligible to apply for the substantive Vice Chancellor position when it becomes available.

Similar leadership changes have been implemented at other federal universities, including the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu has been removed as Acting Vice Chancellor and replaced by Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam.

Additionally, UNN’s Pro-Chancellor, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, has been reassigned to the University of Uyo, with Engineer Olubunmi Kayode Ojo appointed as his replacement.

The statement also highlighted further reshuffling in leadership positions across federal universities, affecting institutions such as the Federal University of Lokoja, Alvan Ikoku University of Education, and Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

These changes follow months of unrest at the University of Abuja, where 43 professors previously petitioned Tinubu over alleged irregularities in Maikudi’s appointment. Protests also erupted during a Senate meeting on January 29, with some members walking out over concerns about her legitimacy as Vice Chancellor.