Why Did Tinubu Remove Nigeria’s Youngest Female VC, Aisha Maikudi?

Just recently, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has removed Professor Aisha Maikudi from her position as Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja (UNIAbuja), which has also been renamed Yakubu Gowon University. This decision, along with the dissolution of the university’s governing council, has sparked much discussion.

In a statement by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, it was announced that Senator Lanre Tejuoso would now serve as the new Pro-Chancellor of the university. 

Also, Professor Lar Patricia Manko has been appointed as the Acting Vice Chancellor, holding the role for six months. Interestingly, Maikudi will not be eligible to apply for the permanent position once it opens up.

This shake-up is part of a larger pattern. Similar leadership changes are taking place in other federal universities, including the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu was also removed as Acting Vice Chancellor. 

He was replaced by Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam, who will serve on a six-month basis, too. Other reshuffles in leadership have affected institutions like the University of Uyo and the Federal University of Lokoja.

At UNIAbuja, the situation had become tense. Reports suggest that 43 professors wrote an open letter to President Tinubu, urging him to step in and address what they described as a brewing crisis. Allegations surrounding Maikudi’s appointment were one of the central issues. Some professors claimed the process had been flawed, raising doubts about the fairness and transparency of her selection.

Tensions came to a head on January 29 when members of the UNIAbuja Senate staged a walkout during a meeting. Inside sources revealed that the Senate members were upset over an alleged attack on some professors by vigilante groups in December 2024. Matters worsened when a professor attempted to bring up these issues in the meeting, only to be silenced, which led to the protest.

The growing unrest at UNIAbuja was further highlighted by claims that the selection process for Maikudi’s appointment was fraudulent. Insiders pointed out that the presence of vigilantes around the Senate Chambers signaled the heightened tension within the institution.

President Tinubu’s decision to remove Maikudi and restructure the leadership of several universities signals that there may be more changes ahead. Many are watching closely to see what these changes will mean for the future of Nigeria’s tertiary education system. The drama surrounding the University of Abuja is just one example of the growing concerns in Nigeria’s higher education space.