Tinubu Sacks Nigeria’s Youngest Female Vice-Chancellor, Aisha Maikudi, Amid University Leadership Shake-Up

 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has removed Professor Aisha Maikudi from her position as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja (UNIAbuja), a decision amid sweeping changes in Nigeria’s higher education sector. The university has also been renamed Yakubu Gowon University.

According to an official statement by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the move includes dissolving the university’s governing council and appointing new leadership.

As part of the shake-up, Senator Lanre Tejuoso has been appointed as the new Pro-Chancellor of the institution, while Professor Lar Patricia Manko will serve as Acting Vice-Chancellor for the next six months. However, she will not be eligible to apply for the substantive position when the role is officially opened.

The leadership restructuring extends beyond UNIAbuja, affecting other prominent universities. At the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu has been replaced by Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam as Acting Vice-Chancellor. Additionally, General Ike Nwachukwu has been reassigned from UNN to the University of Uyo as Pro-Chancellor.

Other major appointments include:

• Professor Zubairu Tajo Abdullahi as Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lokoja.
• Senator Sani Stores as Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education.
• Engineer Olubunmi Kayode Ojo as Pro-Chancellor of UNN.

The changes come in response to growing discontent at UNIAbuja, where internal conflicts had escalated over time. Reports indicate that 43 professors recently wrote an open letter to President Tinubu, highlighting what they described as a leadership crisis at the institution.

Allegations of irregularities in Maikudi’s appointment had long been a source of controversy, with claims that the selection process lacked transparency. The situation worsened on January 29, when members of the university’s Senate staged a protest walkout during a meeting, following reports of an alleged attack on Senate members by vigilante groups in December 2024.

An insider source told Sahara Reporters that the controversy surrounding Maikudi’s tenure was far from over, saying, “The fraudulent selection process that led to Aisha Maikudi’s appointment remains a major issue. The presence of armed vigilantes around the Senate Chambers further signaled the unrest.”

President Tinubu’s latest intervention signals a broader effort to restructure university leadership across Nigeria, with stakeholders eagerly awaiting further developments.