By Charles Ibe – Abuja, Nigeria
The federal government on Thursday announced significant changes in the top management of the Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja) and several others across the country.
President Tinubu dissolved the entire governing council of the University, and relieved Professor Aisha Maikudi of her duties as its Vice-Chancellor with immediate effect.
In a press statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Senator Lanre Tejuoso was announced as the new Pro-Chancellor of the university, while Professor Lar Patricia Manko will serve as Acting Vice Chancellor for a six-month term.
Similar changes have been made at some other federal universities, including the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu has been removed as Acting Vice-Chancellor and replaced by Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam.
The university’s Pro-Chancellor, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, has been reassigned to the University of Uyo, and Engineer Olubunmi Kayode Ojo has been appointed as the new Pro-Chancellor of UNN.
These changes are effective immediately.
Senator Lanre Tejuoso, currently Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has been appointed Pro-Chancellor of the Yakubu Gowon University. He will be succeeded in Makurdi by Senator Joy Emordi, now pro-chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education.
At the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu was removed from his position as Acting Vice-Chancellor with Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam appointed as his successor for six months.
Similarly, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu was reassigned to Pro-Chancellor at the University of Uyo, from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, and replaced by Barrister Olugbenga Kukoyi.
It was previously reported that 43 professors – members of the University of Abuja – had written an open letter to the President Bola Tinubu, who is the visitor to the university, calling for his urgent intervention in the crisis in the school before the situation would get out of hand.
They had alleged that the selection process that led to Prof. Maikudi being appointed as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the school was flawed and plagued by irregularities.
