Yakubu Gowon University names Prof Hakeem Fawehinmi as new VC
The Governing Council of Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja) has approved the appointment of Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi as the new substantive Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
The announcement was made during the 80th Extraordinary Meeting of the Council, held on Friday, November 7, 2025, under the chairmanship of Senator Olanrewaju Tejuoso.
According to a statement signed by the Acting Director of Information and University Relations, Dr Habib Yakoob, the appointment will take effect from Tuesday, February 10, 2026, for a non-renewable tenure of five years.
Professor Fawehinmi, a renowned scholar of Clinical Anatomy and Biomedical Anthropology, is currently the Vice Chancellor of the Nigerian British University, Asa, Abia State.
He has previously held several leadership roles at the University of Port Harcourt, including Head of Department of Anatomy (2005–2009), Associate Dean (2010–2012), Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences (2012–2014), and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) (2016–2020).
Dr Yakoob stated that the new appointee brings with him “a wealth of administrative experience, academic depth, and leadership vision that align with the university’s ongoing transformation agenda.”
The Council also approved the extension of tenure for the current Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Mathew Adamu, until February 10, 2026. Professor Adamu was appointed to the role by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on August 11, 2025.
Beyond his administrative expertise, Professor Fawehinmi has contributed immensely to research and professional development. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications, 37 conference abstracts, and supervised more than 120 academic projects, including 15 MSc and 13 PhD/MD theses.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland (FRAI) and the Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria (FAMedS).
His invention of the AMRG Anthropometry Chair for Dimensional Body Measurements earned a Federal Government patent, underscoring his innovative contributions to applied anatomical science.
Fawehinmi has also served in key professional capacities, including Secretary-General of the Nigerian Medical Association (Rivers State chapter), Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Anatomical Sciences, and President of the Society of Experimental and Clinical Anatomists of Nigeria (2014–2016).
The new Vice-Chancellor has participated in over 70 international conferences and workshops, serving as a resource person across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North America.