President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dismissed Aisha Maikudi from her role as Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, now renamed Yakubu Gowon University,Daily Trust reports.
Maikudi’s removal was announced just hours after she oversaw a matriculation ceremony at the institution. Her appointment had been mired in controversy, with some faculty members alleging that she held the position unlawfully.
In her place, Tinubu appointed Professor Lar Patricia Manko as Acting Vice Chancellor for a six-month term. However, she will not be eligible to apply for the substantive Vice Chancellor position once it becomes available.
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Similarly, the President also removed Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu as Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). Although Chigbu’s tenure was set to end on February 14, Tinubu appointed Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam as the new Acting Vice Chancellor. Like the UNIABUJA case, Ujam will serve for six months and will not be eligible for the permanent role.
Further leadership changes at UNN include the reassignment of Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, who previously served as Pro-Chancellor, to the same role at the University of Uyo. Engineer Olubunmi Kayode Ojo has been appointed as UNN’s new Pro-Chancellor, having previously held the position at the Federal University of Lokoja and the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti.
Professor Zubairu Tajo Abdullahi, the current Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, will now take over Ojo’s former role at the Federal University of Lokoja.
At Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Senator Sani Stores has been named the new Pro-Chancellor, replacing Senator Joy Emordi. Stores previously served as a Council Member at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Additionally, Barrister Olugbenga Kukoyi, also a current Council Member at UNN, has been appointed Pro-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State.
In another key appointment, Senator Lanre Tejuoso, who is currently the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has been reassigned to Yakubu Gowon University. He will be succeeded in Makurdi by Senator Joy Emordi, who now takes on the role of Pro-Chancellor at Alvan Ikoku University of Education.
