President Bola Tinubu has dismissed the Vice-Chancellors of Yakubu Gowon University (formerly UniAbuja) and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), while also dissolving the governing council of Yakubu Gowon University as part of a major shake-up in federal universities. The announcement was made on Thursday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement titled “President Tinubu Announces Leadership Overhaul at Federal Universities.” At Yakubu Gowon University, Prof. Aisha Maikudi was removed as Vice-Chancellor with immediate effect. In her place, Tinubu appointed Prof. Patricia Manko as acting Vice-Chancellor for a six-month term, with the condition that she will not be eligible to apply for the substantive position. Additionally, Senator Lanre Tejuoso, formerly the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has been reassigned to the same role at Yakubu Gowon University. He is succeeded in Makurdi by Senator Joy Emordi, the former Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education.
At UNN, Prof. Polycarp Chigbu was removed as acting Vice-Chancellor, even though his tenure was set to end on February 14. He has been replaced by Prof. Oguejiofu Ujam, who will serve as acting Vice-Chancellor for six months under similar eligibility restrictions. The university's Pro-Chancellor position also saw a change, with Gen. Ike Nwachukwu reassigned to the University of Uyo.
Other key reassignments include:
Olubunmi Ojo, formerly Pro-Chancellor of the Federal Universities of Lokoja and Oye-Ekiti, now appointed as UNN’s Pro-Chancellor.
Prof. Zubairu Abdullahi, previously Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, now taking over at the Federal University of Lokoja.
Senator Sani Stores, a UNN Council Member, appointed as Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education.
Olugbenga Kukoyi, also a UNN Council Member, now serving as Pro-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
According to the Presidency, all appointments and reassignments take immediate effect. Tinubu emphasized that this restructuring aligns with his administration’s commitment to strengthening governance, leadership, and academic excellence in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.