The federal government has constituted the governing councils of federal universities in the country.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, disclosed in a statement that inauguration and retreat of the councils would hold on May 30 and 31, 2024 at the National Universities Commission, 26 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja.
The development came barely four days after the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, protested the non constitution of the governing councils almost one year after dissolution by the government.
Former Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Joy Emordi, legal luminary, Yusuf Ali, SAN, and Senator Udoma Udoma, are among those named as pro-chancellors and chairmen of the institutions.
This list of the constituted governing councils was released on Saturday, comprising technocrats, politicians and traditional rulers for 50 federal universities, 37 polytechnics and 24 colleges of education.
According to the list, while a former Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma was appointed as the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Bayero University, Kano, Kano State; a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Wole Olanipekun was named as Pro-Chancellor/Chairman, University of Lagos (UNILAG); a former Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda leads the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
In the same vein, the University of Abuja will be headed by Prof. Jibrilla Dahiru Amin; a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Yusuf Ali, was named as the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State; a former Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC) Professor Emeritus Peter Okebukola as well as Dr. Abiodun Layonu head the University of Port Harcourt and University of Benin Governing Councils respectively.
Similarly, Chairmen of Boards of polytechnics include: HRH Arc. Ezeogo Ewa Elechi, Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, Cross River State; Salisu Kallamu to Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State; Ekem Okeke to Federal Polytechnic, Orogun, Delta State; Sir Paul C. Chukwuma appointed Federal Polytechnic Kabo, Kano State; Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi for Federal Polytechnic, Daura, Katsina State; Otunba Tajudeen Abioye to Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State; and Prof Erik Omogbai to Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State, among others.
For Colleges of Education, the immediate past Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, David Andrew Adejo heads the Federal College of Education Technical, Akoka, Lagos State as Chairman; while renowned labour leader, Comrade Isa Aremu pilots affairs as Chairman of the Governing Board of Federal College of Education Tech, Keana, Nasarawa State.
Also in the list is Sen. Binta Masi, Federal College of Education, Iditep, Akwa Ibom State; Prof. Isah Garba, Federal College of Education Kontagora, Niger State; Sen. Emmanuel Anosike, Federal College of Education, Aha-Amufu, Enugu State.