In the bid to properly reposition the country’s Tertiary education system, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced drastic leadership changes at several federal universities that have seen the sacking of two Vice Chancellors and two Pro Chancellors.
In what appears to be direct reaction to series of controversies in some Universities in the country, President Tinubu in a statement signed by his spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, announced the sacking of Vice Chancellor the University of Abuja, now known as Yakubu Gowon University, Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi and the dissolution of the governing council as well as the removal of Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu from his position as Acting Vice-Chancellor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), before his tenure ends on February 14.
The statement revealed that Professor Lar Patricia Manko is to take over as Acting Vice Chancellor at the Yakubu Gowon University for a six-month term and will not be eligible to apply for the substantive Vice Chancellor position when it becomes available.
Also in the newAlso in the new arrangement, Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam has been appointed as his successor for six months and will not be eligible to apply for the permanent position.
The leadership changes at UNN extend to the role of Pro-Chancellor, with Gen. Ike Nwachukwu reassigned to Pro-Chancellor at the University of Uyo. President Tinubu appointed Engineer Olubunmi Kayode Ojo as the new Pro-Chancellor of UNN. Previously, Ojo held the same position at the Federal University of Lokoja and the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti. arrangement, Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam has been appointed as his successor for six months and will not be eligible to apply for the permanent position.
It further disclosed that the Pro-Chancellor, UNN, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu has been reassigned to become the Pro-Chancellor University of Uyo while Engineer Olubunmi Kayode Ojo who was Pro Chancellor Federal Universities of Lokoja and Oye – Ekiti takes his place as Pro-Chancellor of UNN.
According to the statement, Senator Lanre Tejuoso, currently Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, is now the Pro-Chancellor of the Yakubu Gowon University and he will be succeeded in Makurdi by Senator Joy Emordi, who has been serving as the pro-chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education.
The change also has it that Professor Zubairu Tajo Abdullahi, currently the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, has been appointed to succeed Ojo at the Federal University of Lokoja, while Senator Sani Stores, formerly a member of UNN Governing council is the new Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, succeeding Senator Joy Emordi.
The pronouncement further stated that Barrister Olugbenga Kukoyi, a current Council Member at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has been appointed the new Pro-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State.
The statement made it clear that all the appointments and reassignments are with immediate effect.
