UniAbuja appoints Aisha Maikudi as Vice-Chancellor amid controversy

The University of Abuja has announced the appointment of Professor Aisha Maikudi as its new Vice-Chancellor, amid ongoing controversies and protests surrounding the appointment process.

The announcement was made in a statement by the acting Director of Public Affairs of the university, Habib Yakoob, on Tuesday.

The appointment has been met with criticism from stakeholders, who claim that Maikudi lacks the requisite years of experience to hold the position of Vice-Chancellor. 

The process also reportedly caused divisions within the university’s governing council, with some members boycotting meetings related to the appointment.

The university’s governing council, chaired by Air Vice-Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita (Rtd), approved the appointment of Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi as the seventh substantive Vice-Chancellor of the institution. The decision was made during the 77th Extraordinary Meeting of the Council on December 31, 2024.

Maikudi’s appointment takes effect from January 1, 2025, and will last for a non-renewable term of five years. According to the statement, Maikudi emerged as the best candidate out of 10 shortlisted candidates, following an interview conducted by the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board of the university.